Sophomore Standouts Headline Day 1 of Texas Tech Open

LUBBOCK, Texas – Stellar performances on the track from Air Force sophomores Javin Bostic and Taylor Rioux headlined the first day of competition at the Texas Tech Open on Friday, Jan. 27, as the track and field team opened competition against some of the nation's elite in Lubbock. In addition to Air Force Top 5 marks from Bostic and Rioux, the Falcons accounted for two Class Records and an pair of Top 15 all-time marks at the Red Raiders' Sports Performance Center.

AIR FORCE TOP 10 MARKS
No. 2 – Javin Bostic, 60-Meter Dash (6.72)
No. 4 – Taylor Rioux, 400-Meter Dash (56.00)

Bostic, who used a 6.76 to win his qualifying heat and finish ninth out of 70 sprinters in the opening round, dropped that time to a career-best 6.72 during the semifinals. Bostic's performance in the second round equaled the second-fastest time in Academy history – and the Sophomore Class Record – that CJ Dimnwaobi set in 2020. Rioux stepped onto the track less than an hour later and raced to the fourth-fastest 400-meter time in program history during a 56-flat performance. Knocking 0.78 seconds off her previous best time, Rioux won her section and finished 16th out of 69 runners in the event.

The 400-meter standings of the men's extended record book also received an upgrade on Friday, as sophomore Cameron Breier became first Falcon in five years to run a sub-48 in the event. Competing in his first individual race of the year, Breier clocked a time of 47.83 to win his section, finish eighth in the full 52-runner field and debut at No. 12 on the program's all-time standings.

In addition, a pair of Falcons impacted the record book from the throwing circle. Junior Gerrit Tamminga unleashed a career-best throw of 59'7" to move into No. 13 on the program's all-time standings and finish sixth in his section of the weight throw, while Jaret Prete improved his own Senior Class Record for the second time in as many meets during a season-best 64'11¼" performance in his section.

Cameron Harris advanced through three round of hurdles competition to place sixth in the finals with a time of 8.09. The senior, who posted the second-fastest time (8.00) in the 41-athlete opening round, added another eight-flat performance in the semifinals to claim the final qualifying spot. Harris was one of four Air Force hurdlers to advance into the semifinals, as sophomore Seth Meador (8.18), classmate Darek Hackett (8.22) and junior Philip Hundl (8.28) all qualified on time to the second round.

From the infield, sophomore Ben Charlebois recorded a season-best clearance of 16'2½" to finish sixth in the men's pole vault, while classmate Katie Schlather cleared 12'2¾" – her best height of the season – to finish seventh in the women's competition. Junior Brandon Lindner also picked up a seventh-place finish on the night after recording a leap of 23'5½" in the long jump.

The Falcons return to the Sports Performance Center tomorrow (Jan. 28) for the final day of action at the Texas Tech Open.

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