Photo by: Sara Saiz
Air Force Men Finish Sixth at Virginia Invitational
9/23/2023 12:59:00 PM | Cross Country
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Backed by a pair of top-20 finishes from seniors Sean Maison and Luke Combs, the 17th-ranked Air Force men's cross country team earned a sixth-place finish in their debut at the Virginia Invitational this morning (Sept. 23) in Charlottesville.
With a time of 23:40.7, Maison finished 15th in the 224-runner 8K race around Panorama Farms – site of the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships later this fall, while Combs finished less than two seconds back with an 18th-place time of 23:42.0. Sophomore Max Sannes and senior Eli Bennett added top-50 placements to the Falcons' score, as they finished 36th (23:53.2) and 43rd (23:57.6), respectively, while senior Ryan Child rounded out the scoring lineup with a 77th-place time of 24:13.5.
The men tallied 189 points to finish sixth in the 24-team field that included 18 teams mentioned in the latest national rankings. With that finish, the 17th-ranked Falcons bettered three top-10 teams, including No. 4 Stanford, (ninth), No. 7 Colorado (12th), and No. 10 Virginia (seventh). The Falcons also picked up a win over service academy rival Navy, who finished 19th with 468 points.
On the women's side, Air Force finished 17th in a field that also included several of the nation's top-ranked teams – and distanced themselves from Navy by more than 100 points (446-548). Junior Ally Peterson paced the Falcons' contingent with a 76th-place 5K time of 17:26.4, while classmates Tiaree Towler and Halle Hamilton finished less than a second apart in 85th (17:30.9) and 86th (17:31.2), respectively. Senior Rachel Crytser finished within the top half of the 201-runner event with a 100th-place time of 17:37.2, and freshman Anna Harden rounded out the scoring lineup with a 124th-place time of 17:53.8.
"Today was constructive for both groups," Air Force director of track & field and cross country Ryan Cole said. "Previewing the national course, racing in a highly competitive field with a lot of bodies, handling some potential distractions… There was a lot that can help us be better moving forward. This was also really the first competitive step as we move toward our championship season. The guys did really well today, highlighted by the return of Luke (Combs) and a breakout race from Ryan (Child). On the women's side, we dealt with some sickness this weekend, but also had solid showings from our returners and a nice contribution from freshman Anna Harden as our fifth runner. But both genders feel we can continue to progress over the next month."
The Falcons return to action on Friday, Oct. 6, when they head to the UCCS Cross Country Open.
With a time of 23:40.7, Maison finished 15th in the 224-runner 8K race around Panorama Farms – site of the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships later this fall, while Combs finished less than two seconds back with an 18th-place time of 23:42.0. Sophomore Max Sannes and senior Eli Bennett added top-50 placements to the Falcons' score, as they finished 36th (23:53.2) and 43rd (23:57.6), respectively, while senior Ryan Child rounded out the scoring lineup with a 77th-place time of 24:13.5.
The men tallied 189 points to finish sixth in the 24-team field that included 18 teams mentioned in the latest national rankings. With that finish, the 17th-ranked Falcons bettered three top-10 teams, including No. 4 Stanford, (ninth), No. 7 Colorado (12th), and No. 10 Virginia (seventh). The Falcons also picked up a win over service academy rival Navy, who finished 19th with 468 points.
On the women's side, Air Force finished 17th in a field that also included several of the nation's top-ranked teams – and distanced themselves from Navy by more than 100 points (446-548). Junior Ally Peterson paced the Falcons' contingent with a 76th-place 5K time of 17:26.4, while classmates Tiaree Towler and Halle Hamilton finished less than a second apart in 85th (17:30.9) and 86th (17:31.2), respectively. Senior Rachel Crytser finished within the top half of the 201-runner event with a 100th-place time of 17:37.2, and freshman Anna Harden rounded out the scoring lineup with a 124th-place time of 17:53.8.
"Today was constructive for both groups," Air Force director of track & field and cross country Ryan Cole said. "Previewing the national course, racing in a highly competitive field with a lot of bodies, handling some potential distractions… There was a lot that can help us be better moving forward. This was also really the first competitive step as we move toward our championship season. The guys did really well today, highlighted by the return of Luke (Combs) and a breakout race from Ryan (Child). On the women's side, we dealt with some sickness this weekend, but also had solid showings from our returners and a nice contribution from freshman Anna Harden as our fifth runner. But both genders feel we can continue to progress over the next month."
The Falcons return to action on Friday, Oct. 6, when they head to the UCCS Cross Country Open.
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