Sam Gilman, Ryan Cole Headline MW Indoor Awards
3/1/2023 1:06:00 PM | Track and Field
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Senior Sam Gilman and Air Force Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Ryan Cole were honored by the Mountain West after leading the Falcons to the men's team title at last week's MW Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, while the conference office announced that a men's program-record 18 all-conference accolades were awarded to the Falcons.
After capturing a pair of conference titles, Gilman was tabbed as the MW Performer of the Meet – marking the fifth time in six indoor meets that a member of the Air Force men's track and field team has captured that award. Gilman opened the competition by anchoring the distance medley relay to its second-straight championship, using a strong kick to easily take down the field and help the squad to the fourth-fastest time in Air Force history (9:32.51a). After posting the fastest mile time in qualifying on Friday (4:10.89), Gilman raced to a 4:04.81 finish in the final to successfully defend his MW title and become just the third conference runner to win back-to-back titles in that event.
Gilman is the seventh Falcon to capture Mountain West Performer of the Meet honors, joining Dana Pounds (2005 outdoor), Jamiel Trimble (2016 outdoor, 2017 indoor, 2017 outdoor), John Reynolds (2018 indoor), Jacob Bilvado (2019 indoor), Mahala Norris (2021 outdoor), and Ryan Ioanidis (2022 indoor).
Cole captured his seventh MW Coach of the Year award (2015 men's cross country, 2016 women's cross country, 2020 men's cross country, 2021 men's cross country, 2022 men's outdoor track and field, 2022 men's cross country) after guiding the men to a dominating victory at the conference meet. Scoring at least one point in every event and having every member of the 28-man travel roster record at least one scoring finish, the Falcons accumulated the conference's highest team score in 14 years – a 208-point performance that bettered the rest of the Mountain West by more than 80 points.
CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS
MW Men's Performer of the Meet: Sam Gilman
MW Men's Coach of the Year: Ryan Cole
In addition to the major championship awards, the conference also recognized the individuals and relays that captured all-conference status at the championship meet after placing within the top three of their respective events. The Falcons combined for 18 all-conference awards (16 individuals, two relays) – a tally that accounted for the most ever by Air Force's men at an indoor championship meet.
Gilman was one of five individuals to capture gold all-MW medals after winning their respective events last weekend, as junior Eli Bennett (3000-meter run), sophomore Jalan Rivers (high jump), senior Hayden Bullock (shot put) and senior Jaret Prete (weight throw) also accounted for titles at the ABQ Convention Center. In addition to their individual titles, Bennett and Gilman also book-ended sophomore Darek Hackett and junior Alex Patton in the distance medley relay that claimed the conference championship.
Air Force accounted for multiple all-MW finishes in four events, including a 1-2 sweep in the mile (Gilman, junior Sean Maison) and 1-3 finishes in both throwing events (Bullock, freshman Texas Tanner in the shot put; Prete, junior Gerrit Tamminga in the weight throw). Air Force also added a pair of podium finishes in the pole vault, as a 2-3 finish from junior Caiden Macktinger and sophomore Robert Postell helped Air Force earn multiple top-three finishes in that event for the 11th-straight indoor championship meet.
Like Gilman and Bennett, Hackett and senior Zac Larrier earned a pair of medals at the indoor meet. The pair joined sophomore Cameron Breier and junior John Colizzi on the 4x400-meter relay that finished second, while Larrier earned that same finish in the 200-meter dash. Seniors Ryan Johnson and Cameron Harris added second-place finishes in the 5000-meter run and 60-meter hurdles, respectively, while junior Braeden Holcombe captured the same placement in the heptathlon. Fellow junior Brandon Lindner and sophomore Javin Bostic rounded out the Falcons' list of all-conference honorees with third-place finishes in the triple jump and 60-meter dash, respectively.
ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREESAfter capturing a pair of conference titles, Gilman was tabbed as the MW Performer of the Meet – marking the fifth time in six indoor meets that a member of the Air Force men's track and field team has captured that award. Gilman opened the competition by anchoring the distance medley relay to its second-straight championship, using a strong kick to easily take down the field and help the squad to the fourth-fastest time in Air Force history (9:32.51a). After posting the fastest mile time in qualifying on Friday (4:10.89), Gilman raced to a 4:04.81 finish in the final to successfully defend his MW title and become just the third conference runner to win back-to-back titles in that event.
Gilman is the seventh Falcon to capture Mountain West Performer of the Meet honors, joining Dana Pounds (2005 outdoor), Jamiel Trimble (2016 outdoor, 2017 indoor, 2017 outdoor), John Reynolds (2018 indoor), Jacob Bilvado (2019 indoor), Mahala Norris (2021 outdoor), and Ryan Ioanidis (2022 indoor).
Cole captured his seventh MW Coach of the Year award (2015 men's cross country, 2016 women's cross country, 2020 men's cross country, 2021 men's cross country, 2022 men's outdoor track and field, 2022 men's cross country) after guiding the men to a dominating victory at the conference meet. Scoring at least one point in every event and having every member of the 28-man travel roster record at least one scoring finish, the Falcons accumulated the conference's highest team score in 14 years – a 208-point performance that bettered the rest of the Mountain West by more than 80 points.
CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS
MW Men's Performer of the Meet: Sam Gilman
MW Men's Coach of the Year: Ryan Cole
In addition to the major championship awards, the conference also recognized the individuals and relays that captured all-conference status at the championship meet after placing within the top three of their respective events. The Falcons combined for 18 all-conference awards (16 individuals, two relays) – a tally that accounted for the most ever by Air Force's men at an indoor championship meet.
Gilman was one of five individuals to capture gold all-MW medals after winning their respective events last weekend, as junior Eli Bennett (3000-meter run), sophomore Jalan Rivers (high jump), senior Hayden Bullock (shot put) and senior Jaret Prete (weight throw) also accounted for titles at the ABQ Convention Center. In addition to their individual titles, Bennett and Gilman also book-ended sophomore Darek Hackett and junior Alex Patton in the distance medley relay that claimed the conference championship.
Air Force accounted for multiple all-MW finishes in four events, including a 1-2 sweep in the mile (Gilman, junior Sean Maison) and 1-3 finishes in both throwing events (Bullock, freshman Texas Tanner in the shot put; Prete, junior Gerrit Tamminga in the weight throw). Air Force also added a pair of podium finishes in the pole vault, as a 2-3 finish from junior Caiden Macktinger and sophomore Robert Postell helped Air Force earn multiple top-three finishes in that event for the 11th-straight indoor championship meet.
Like Gilman and Bennett, Hackett and senior Zac Larrier earned a pair of medals at the indoor meet. The pair joined sophomore Cameron Breier and junior John Colizzi on the 4x400-meter relay that finished second, while Larrier earned that same finish in the 200-meter dash. Seniors Ryan Johnson and Cameron Harris added second-place finishes in the 5000-meter run and 60-meter hurdles, respectively, while junior Braeden Holcombe captured the same placement in the heptathlon. Fellow junior Brandon Lindner and sophomore Javin Bostic rounded out the Falcons' list of all-conference honorees with third-place finishes in the triple jump and 60-meter dash, respectively.
Men's 60-Meter Dash: Javin Bostic (third-place finish)
Men's 200-Meter Dash: Zac Larrier (second-place finish)
Men's Mile Run: Sam Gilman (MW champion)
Men's Mile Run: Sean Maison (second-place finish)
Men's 3000-Meter Run: Eli Bennett (MW champion)
Men's 5000-Meter Run: Ryan Johnson (second-place finish)
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles: Cameron Harris (second-place finish)
Men's High Jump: Jalan Rivers (MW champion)
Men's Pole Vault: Caiden Macktinger (second-place finish)
Men's Pole Vault: Robert Postell (third-place finish)
Men's Triple Jump: Brandon Lindner (third-place finish)
Men's Shot Put: Hayden Bullock (MW champion)
Men's Shot Put: Texas Tanner (third-place finish)
Men's Weight Throw: Jaret Prete (MW champion)
Men's Weight Throw: Gerrit Tamminga (third-place finish)
Men's Heptathlon: Braeden Holcombe (second-place finish)
Men's 4x400-Meter Relay: Cameron Breier, Darek Hackett, Zac Larrier, John Colizzi (second-place finish)
Men's Distance Medley Relay: Eli Bennett, Darek Hackett, Alex Patton, Sam Gilman (MW champion)
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
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400m Hurdles
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Throws
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Long Jump, Triple Jump
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Track and Field
1500m / 5000m
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Long Jump, Triple Jump
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
High Jump
/ Track and Field
Throws
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Throws
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