Ryan Johnson Wins 5K at Fanelli Track Classic

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Air Force junior Ryan Johnson accounted for the third-fastest time in Air Force history today (April 1) during a winning 5000-meter performance the Mike Fanelli Track Classic in San Francisco.

Johnson, who posted a career-best time of 13:45.86 in the win, broke away from the lead pack in the final laps to secure the seven-second victory and a new Meet Record – taking more than 13 seconds off the old event standard. Deleting nearly 18 seconds from his own best time, which was set during this same weekend last year, Johnson posted the Falcons' fastest outdoor 5000-meter time since 2019 and vaulted into third on the program's all-time standings. At the completion of all eight sections in the 5000-meter run, Johnson had the fastest time of all 165 competitors.

Johnson wasn't the only Falcon to impact the program's Top 10 in the 5000-meter run at Cox Stadium on Friday, as freshman Ally Peterson debuted in 10th on the women's all-time standings during her first race at that distance. Crossing the finish line in 16:54.36, Peterson was the top collegiate finisher in her section and placed second among college runners – and fourth overall – in the full 103-runner field. Senior Adrianna Wilder added a time of 17:31.14 to finish 25th in the full standings.

Senior Matt Zacharias officially kicked off the meet on Thursday, March 31, when he competed in the 3000-meter steeplechase during the opening day of action at Cox Stadium. Competing in his first steeplechase since his freshman year, Zacharias knocked more than 21 seconds off his previous time to finish within the top half of the 32-runner field (15th) with a time of 9:27.69.

The Falcons' distance squad continues its California competition later tonight at the Stanford Invitational, while the rest of the Air Force squad hosts the Front Range Open at the Cadet Outdoor Track and Field Complex tomorrow (April 1), beginning at 11:30 a.m. (MT).

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