Darek Hackett, Texas Tanner Claim Weekly MW Awards
4/2/2024 1:03:00 PM | Track and Field
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Following record-setting performances last weekend, the Air Force duo of junior Darek Hackett and sophomore Texas Tanner were honored by the Mountain West this afternoon (April 2), with Hackett earning the MW Men's Track Athlete of the Week award and Tanner being named the MW Men's Field Athlete of the Week. It's the first athlete of the week award for both Falcons, although Tanner was named the conference's Freshman of the Week twice in 2023.
Hackett moved into No. 6 in the NCAA and became the fastest intermediate hurdler in the history of the three service academies on March 29, as he broke Air Force's 21-year-old record in the 400-meter hurdles with a 50.26 performance at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. With a time that leads the conference by more than two seconds, Hackett finished second in the event finals, deleted 0.13 seconds from a program record that had stood since 2003 and improved the Air Force Junior Class Record for the second-straight race, after clocking a 50.92 during the event preliminary (second of 39). He also ran a wind-aided 14.01 to finish second out of 46 runners in the timed final at the Texas Relays.
Tanner reset his own Academy Record in the hammer throw at the Bobcat Invitational on March 30, as he recorded a throw of 66.99 meters (219'9"). Tanner, who finished fourth out of 25 throwers in the "A" section of that event, leads the conference by nearly three feet and is ranked 16th in the NCAA. His 219'9" outing, which came on his final throw, was a six-inch improvement on the Academy Record he set last weekend. After setting that record in San Marcos, Tanner traveled to Austin to compete in the "A" section of the shot put at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays – where he promptly recorded a career-best throw of 17.60 meters (57'9") to move into fifth on the Academy's all-time standings and finish as one of just two underclassmen in the top 10 of that event.
The Falcons are back in action on April 5-6, when they travel to Boulder for the Colorado Invitational.
Hackett moved into No. 6 in the NCAA and became the fastest intermediate hurdler in the history of the three service academies on March 29, as he broke Air Force's 21-year-old record in the 400-meter hurdles with a 50.26 performance at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. With a time that leads the conference by more than two seconds, Hackett finished second in the event finals, deleted 0.13 seconds from a program record that had stood since 2003 and improved the Air Force Junior Class Record for the second-straight race, after clocking a 50.92 during the event preliminary (second of 39). He also ran a wind-aided 14.01 to finish second out of 46 runners in the timed final at the Texas Relays.
Tanner reset his own Academy Record in the hammer throw at the Bobcat Invitational on March 30, as he recorded a throw of 66.99 meters (219'9"). Tanner, who finished fourth out of 25 throwers in the "A" section of that event, leads the conference by nearly three feet and is ranked 16th in the NCAA. His 219'9" outing, which came on his final throw, was a six-inch improvement on the Academy Record he set last weekend. After setting that record in San Marcos, Tanner traveled to Austin to compete in the "A" section of the shot put at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays – where he promptly recorded a career-best throw of 17.60 meters (57'9") to move into fifth on the Academy's all-time standings and finish as one of just two underclassmen in the top 10 of that event.
The Falcons are back in action on April 5-6, when they travel to Boulder for the Colorado Invitational.
Players Mentioned
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and FieldTexas Tanner Pre Indoor Nationals Interview
Monday, March 09
Ryan Cole Interview - March 3rd, 2026
Tuesday, March 03
Ryan Cole Interview - February 24th, 2026
Tuesday, February 24
Ryan Cole Interview - August 26th, 2025
Tuesday, August 26
