Friday, September 1
Colorado Springs, CO
10:00 am MT
Air Force Academy
vs
AFXC Classic
Photo by: Josh Armstrong
Falcons Set to Open Season with AFXC Classic
8/31/2023 9:30:00 AM | Cross Country
The Air Force cross country team, which included the 17th-ranked men's squad and a women's team receiving votes in the national poll, kicks off the 2023 campaign this weekend, when it hosts the AFXC Classic on Friday, Sept. 1.
MEET INFORMATION
The AFXC Classic will take place at Monument Valley Park in Colorado Springs and is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. (MT). Spectators driving from the Academy should take I-25 south to Fillmore Street (exit 145). After exiting the interstate, turn left onto W. Fillmore Street, right onto N. Cascade Ave, and right onto E. Fontenaro Street. Parking is located along Fontenaro and the playground is located down the hill. The men will run five miles, while the women will run three.
LOOK WHO'S BACK
The Air Force men return reigning Mountain West champion Sean Maison and fellow all-conference runner Luke Combs (2020, 2021), as well as two of the last three MW Freshman of the Year honorees – Combs (2020), Max Sannes (2022) – and three NCAA Qualifiers – Combs (2020, 2021, 2022), Maison (2021, 2022), Eli Bennett (2022). On the women's side, the Falcons bring back three of its five scoring runners from last year's conference meet, including all-MW runner Halle Hamilton – a 2022 NCAA qualifier and the 2021 MW Freshman of the Year.
MEN RANKED 17TH IN USTFCCCA PRESEASON POLL, WOMEN RECEIVING VOTES
The Air Force men earned a No. 17 placement in the USTFCCCA preseason poll, while the women received votes. Regionally, the men are fourth in the Mountain Region and the women are listed seventh.
MEN PICKED AS MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON FAVORITE
The men, winners of three-straight conference titles, were selected as the preseason favorites of the Mountain West. For the second-straight year, the Falcons accounted for seven of the nine first-place votes and 63 total points. On the women's side, Air Force was picked sixth in the 11-team league, with 62 points.
WELCOME TO THE TEAM
Air Force added seven men and 13 women to its roster for the 2023 season with the addition of Liliane Aittama, Camryn Bodine, Addie Curtis, Benjamin Davenport, Elanor Eddington, Scarlet Fetterolf, Carly Foster, Anna Harden, Jonah Hochstetler, Ella Johnson, Patrick Lawson, Sarah Martens, Josh Razo, Dominykas Remeikis, Erika Safranek, Sofia Sanchez, Roman Thomas, Danielle Tilp, Joseph White, and Michaela Workman.
THE SIBLING SYSTEM
Air Force has two sets of siblings on its 2023 roster, including the Scheller brothers (Ben Scheller, Nick Scheller) and the Fetterolf sisters (Ricky Fetterolf, Scarlet Fetterolf). The Falcons are no strangers to featuring multiple sets of siblings, as Sean Maison and his twin brother Scott spent three seasons running together and current volunteer coach – and 2023 grad – 2Lt Ryan Johnson spent two years running with his older brother Scott.
SENIOR SALUTE
There are eight seniors on the Falcons' 2023 cross country roster, including Eli Bennett, Ryan Child, Luke Combs, Rachel Crytser, Ava Gilliana, Jett Knight, Sean Maison, and Rebecca Wusinich.
LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE LOCALS
Ella Johnson (Glenwood Springs), Jayden Nats (Highlands Ranch), Dominykas Remeikis hail from Colorado.
RECORD BOOK AVAILABLE
The 2023 Air Force Cross Country Record Book is available at GoAirForceFalcons.com.
THE NEXT COURSE
Air Force returns to action on Sept. 16, when it heads to Denver for the Roadrunner Invite at Washington Park.
MEET INFORMATION
The AFXC Classic will take place at Monument Valley Park in Colorado Springs and is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. (MT). Spectators driving from the Academy should take I-25 south to Fillmore Street (exit 145). After exiting the interstate, turn left onto W. Fillmore Street, right onto N. Cascade Ave, and right onto E. Fontenaro Street. Parking is located along Fontenaro and the playground is located down the hill. The men will run five miles, while the women will run three.
LOOK WHO'S BACK
The Air Force men return reigning Mountain West champion Sean Maison and fellow all-conference runner Luke Combs (2020, 2021), as well as two of the last three MW Freshman of the Year honorees – Combs (2020), Max Sannes (2022) – and three NCAA Qualifiers – Combs (2020, 2021, 2022), Maison (2021, 2022), Eli Bennett (2022). On the women's side, the Falcons bring back three of its five scoring runners from last year's conference meet, including all-MW runner Halle Hamilton – a 2022 NCAA qualifier and the 2021 MW Freshman of the Year.
MEN RANKED 17TH IN USTFCCCA PRESEASON POLL, WOMEN RECEIVING VOTES
The Air Force men earned a No. 17 placement in the USTFCCCA preseason poll, while the women received votes. Regionally, the men are fourth in the Mountain Region and the women are listed seventh.
MEN PICKED AS MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON FAVORITE
The men, winners of three-straight conference titles, were selected as the preseason favorites of the Mountain West. For the second-straight year, the Falcons accounted for seven of the nine first-place votes and 63 total points. On the women's side, Air Force was picked sixth in the 11-team league, with 62 points.
WELCOME TO THE TEAM
Air Force added seven men and 13 women to its roster for the 2023 season with the addition of Liliane Aittama, Camryn Bodine, Addie Curtis, Benjamin Davenport, Elanor Eddington, Scarlet Fetterolf, Carly Foster, Anna Harden, Jonah Hochstetler, Ella Johnson, Patrick Lawson, Sarah Martens, Josh Razo, Dominykas Remeikis, Erika Safranek, Sofia Sanchez, Roman Thomas, Danielle Tilp, Joseph White, and Michaela Workman.
THE SIBLING SYSTEM
Air Force has two sets of siblings on its 2023 roster, including the Scheller brothers (Ben Scheller, Nick Scheller) and the Fetterolf sisters (Ricky Fetterolf, Scarlet Fetterolf). The Falcons are no strangers to featuring multiple sets of siblings, as Sean Maison and his twin brother Scott spent three seasons running together and current volunteer coach – and 2023 grad – 2Lt Ryan Johnson spent two years running with his older brother Scott.
SENIOR SALUTE
There are eight seniors on the Falcons' 2023 cross country roster, including Eli Bennett, Ryan Child, Luke Combs, Rachel Crytser, Ava Gilliana, Jett Knight, Sean Maison, and Rebecca Wusinich.
LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE LOCALS
Ella Johnson (Glenwood Springs), Jayden Nats (Highlands Ranch), Dominykas Remeikis hail from Colorado.
RECORD BOOK AVAILABLE
The 2023 Air Force Cross Country Record Book is available at GoAirForceFalcons.com.
THE NEXT COURSE
Air Force returns to action on Sept. 16, when it heads to Denver for the Roadrunner Invite at Washington Park.
Players Mentioned
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