Friday, December 8
USAFA
1:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
vs
Air Force Holiday Opener
Photo by: Austin Hutchings
Track & Field Set to Host Air Force Holiday Opener
12/6/2023 3:57:00 PM | Track and Field
The 2023-24 track and field season begins in full force this Friday (Dec. 8), when the team hosts its annual Air Force Holiday Opener at the Cadet Field House.
MEET INFORMATION
The Air Force Holiday Opener, which will kick off another indoor season at the Cadet Field House, is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. (a complete schedule of events is listed below). Live results will be available via GoAirForceFalcons.com (a direct link is available on the team's schedule page), while in-meet updates and highlights will be posted on the team's official social media accounts (@af_tfxc).
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
1:00 p.m.: Women's Weight Throw, followed by Men's Weight Throw, Women's Shot Put, Men's Shot Put; 2:00 p.m.: Men's Pole Vault, followed by Women's Pole Vault; 2:00 p.m.: Women's Long Jump, followed by Women's Triple Jump; 2:00 p.m.: Men's Long Jump, followed by Men's Triple Jump; 3:00 p.m.: Women's High Jump, followed by Men's High Jump; 3:30 p.m.: Women's Mile Run, followed by 60-Meter Hurdles, 400-Meter Dash, 60-Meter Dash, 600-Meter Run, 800-Meter Run, 200-Meter Dash, Mixed Mile Relay (unless noted, the women will compete first in all running events)
REPRESENTING THE ACADEMY'S BEST
The men's and women's track and field teams were both recognized by the NCAA for maintaining a Graduation Success Rate of 95 or higher – two of the 14 Academy programs to hold that distinction (rates of 95 for both teams).
HOME SWEET HOME
Eight Falcons hail from the state of Colorado, including three – Keegan Bennett, Alec Falk and Braeden Holcombe – from the local Colorado Springs/Monument area. The squad's Centennial State roster also includes Jackson Connelly (Aurora), Ryan Hajek (Denver), Ella Johnson (Glenwood Springs), Jayden Nats (Highlands Ranch), and Dominykas Remeikis (Breckenridge).
LOOK WHO'S BACK
Air Force's 2023-24 roster includes two Mountain West Indoor champions in Eli Bennett (3000-meter run) and Jalan Rivers (high jump), as well as three of the four members of the distance medley relay that won the 2023 title (Bennett, Darek Hackett, Alex Patton). The Falcons' roster also features two athletes with indoor Academy Records – Javin Bostic (60-meter dash: 6.67) and Katie Thompson (long jump: 20'3").
WE'LL BE SEEING YOU
The Air Force Holiday Open is the first of three home meets on the Falcons' schedule for the indoor season. In addition to the December meet, the team will host the Ralph Lindeman Invitational on Jan. 19-20 and the Air Force Collegiate Open on Feb. 16.
ON THE SIDELINES
Ryan Cole is in his second season as Air Force's Director of Track & Field and Cross Country and his 10th year overall as coach of the team's middle distance and distance runners, while Scott Steffan is in his second season as Head Coach of the track and field team and his 17th overseeing the Falcons' vertical jumps program. Cole and Steffan, who also coaches the program's multi-event athletes, will be joined by assistant coaches Laura Bowerman (middle distance, distance), Dave Hightower (sprints, relays), Dustin Imdieke (hurdles, horizontal jumps) and Kyle Lille (throws).
COMING UP
The Falcons return to action on Jan. 12-13, when they travel to Boulder for the Potts Indoor Invitational.
MEET INFORMATION
The Air Force Holiday Opener, which will kick off another indoor season at the Cadet Field House, is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. (a complete schedule of events is listed below). Live results will be available via GoAirForceFalcons.com (a direct link is available on the team's schedule page), while in-meet updates and highlights will be posted on the team's official social media accounts (@af_tfxc).
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
1:00 p.m.: Women's Weight Throw, followed by Men's Weight Throw, Women's Shot Put, Men's Shot Put; 2:00 p.m.: Men's Pole Vault, followed by Women's Pole Vault; 2:00 p.m.: Women's Long Jump, followed by Women's Triple Jump; 2:00 p.m.: Men's Long Jump, followed by Men's Triple Jump; 3:00 p.m.: Women's High Jump, followed by Men's High Jump; 3:30 p.m.: Women's Mile Run, followed by 60-Meter Hurdles, 400-Meter Dash, 60-Meter Dash, 600-Meter Run, 800-Meter Run, 200-Meter Dash, Mixed Mile Relay (unless noted, the women will compete first in all running events)
REPRESENTING THE ACADEMY'S BEST
The men's and women's track and field teams were both recognized by the NCAA for maintaining a Graduation Success Rate of 95 or higher – two of the 14 Academy programs to hold that distinction (rates of 95 for both teams).
HOME SWEET HOME
Eight Falcons hail from the state of Colorado, including three – Keegan Bennett, Alec Falk and Braeden Holcombe – from the local Colorado Springs/Monument area. The squad's Centennial State roster also includes Jackson Connelly (Aurora), Ryan Hajek (Denver), Ella Johnson (Glenwood Springs), Jayden Nats (Highlands Ranch), and Dominykas Remeikis (Breckenridge).
LOOK WHO'S BACK
Air Force's 2023-24 roster includes two Mountain West Indoor champions in Eli Bennett (3000-meter run) and Jalan Rivers (high jump), as well as three of the four members of the distance medley relay that won the 2023 title (Bennett, Darek Hackett, Alex Patton). The Falcons' roster also features two athletes with indoor Academy Records – Javin Bostic (60-meter dash: 6.67) and Katie Thompson (long jump: 20'3").
WE'LL BE SEEING YOU
The Air Force Holiday Open is the first of three home meets on the Falcons' schedule for the indoor season. In addition to the December meet, the team will host the Ralph Lindeman Invitational on Jan. 19-20 and the Air Force Collegiate Open on Feb. 16.
ON THE SIDELINES
Ryan Cole is in his second season as Air Force's Director of Track & Field and Cross Country and his 10th year overall as coach of the team's middle distance and distance runners, while Scott Steffan is in his second season as Head Coach of the track and field team and his 17th overseeing the Falcons' vertical jumps program. Cole and Steffan, who also coaches the program's multi-event athletes, will be joined by assistant coaches Laura Bowerman (middle distance, distance), Dave Hightower (sprints, relays), Dustin Imdieke (hurdles, horizontal jumps) and Kyle Lille (throws).
COMING UP
The Falcons return to action on Jan. 12-13, when they travel to Boulder for the Potts Indoor Invitational.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
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Sprints
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Sprints
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Throws
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
High Jump
/ Track and Field
Long Jump, Hurdles
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