Photo by: Alysa Rubin/NCAA Photos
Texas Tanner, Ryan Cole Headline MW Outdoor Awards
5/15/2024 2:11:00 PM | Track and Field
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Sophomore Texas Tanner 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 Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the conference office announced this afternoon (May 15). In addition, the Mountain West also recognized the athletes that achieved all-conference status during the championship weekend – with the Falcons accounting for 19 such honors.
Following a stellar weekend in the throwing circle that included two conference championships, Tanner was tabbed as the MW Men's Field Event Performer of the Meet – marking the fifth time that a member of the Air Force program has captured a Performer of the Meet award at the outdoor meet. Tanner opened the competition with a victory in the hammer throw on May 9 – releasing a throw of 67.98 meters on his third attempt to become the program's first hammer champion since 2012 and lead the Falcons to a 21-point output. After scoring for Air Force in the shot put on May 10 (fifth, 17.17m), Tanner returned to the cage for his second MW title of the meet on May 11, as he recorded a throw of 57.75 meters to win the discus throw and secure back-to-back titles for the Air Force throwing program in that event.
Overall, Tanner is the eighth Falcon to capture Mountain West Performer of the Meet at either the indoor or outdoor meet, 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), Ryan Ioanidis (2018 indoor), and Sam Gilman (2023 indoor).
Cole captured his ninth 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, 2023 men's track and field, 2023 men's outdoor track and field) after guiding the men to a dominating victory at the conference meet – the program's third-straight under Cole's watch. Backed by six individual titles, the men accumulated the conference's second-highest team score in 14 years – a 226.50 point performance that bettered the rest of the Mountain West by nearly 70 points.
In addition to the major championship awards, the conference also recognized the individuals and relays that captured all-conference status at the championship meet by placing within the top three of their respective events. The Falcons combined for 19 all-MW awards (17 individual honors, two relays) – a tally that matched the fifth-highest total by Air Force at an outdoor championship meet.
Tanner was one of six individuals to capture gold medals over the weekend after winning their respective events. Juniors Darek Hackett (400-meter hurdles) and Jalan Rivers (high jump) successfully defended their Mountain West titles, while senior Braeden Holcombe captured his second decathlon championship in the last three outdoor meets. In addition, senior Luke Combs became the program's first 10,000-meter champion since 2015 and junior Joe Nizich claimed the Falcons' men's javelin title since 2017.
Hackett and Rivers led Air Force to 1-2 finishes in their events, as junior Cameron Breier captured his second-straight silver medal in the 400-meter hurdles and freshman Devin Jordan earned the same placement in the high jump during his first championship meet. The men also accounted for two of the top-three finishes in the hammer throw, as senior Gerrit Tamminga picked up a third-place finish to join Tanner on the podium.
Breier captured an additional silver medal, as he teamed up with freshman James Warmbrod IV, senior Philip Hundl and senior Alex Patton for a runner-up finish in the 4x400-meter relay. Junior Javin Bostic led Air Force with three silver medals, as he placed second in the 100- and 200-meter sprints and anchored the runner-up 4x100-meter relay with sophomore Jettason Rose, senior Jackson Connelly, and freshman Jace Martin. Senior Brandon Lindner rounded out the Falcons' list of silver medalists with a runner-up finish in the long jump.
As a program, the Falcons medaled in both 5000-meter races, as junior Ally Peterson finished third in the women's race and senior Eli Bennett earned the same placement in the men's. Junior Jason Renze added a bronze medal in the 3000-meter steeplechase, while classmate Robert Postell's third-place finish in the pole vault marked the 17th-straight year that Air Force has earned at least one podium finish in that event.
The men's 18 all-conference awards were the most by any men's team in the conference this spring.
Following a stellar weekend in the throwing circle that included two conference championships, Tanner was tabbed as the MW Men's Field Event Performer of the Meet – marking the fifth time that a member of the Air Force program has captured a Performer of the Meet award at the outdoor meet. Tanner opened the competition with a victory in the hammer throw on May 9 – releasing a throw of 67.98 meters on his third attempt to become the program's first hammer champion since 2012 and lead the Falcons to a 21-point output. After scoring for Air Force in the shot put on May 10 (fifth, 17.17m), Tanner returned to the cage for his second MW title of the meet on May 11, as he recorded a throw of 57.75 meters to win the discus throw and secure back-to-back titles for the Air Force throwing program in that event.
Overall, Tanner is the eighth Falcon to capture Mountain West Performer of the Meet at either the indoor or outdoor meet, 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), Ryan Ioanidis (2018 indoor), and Sam Gilman (2023 indoor).
Cole captured his ninth 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, 2023 men's track and field, 2023 men's outdoor track and field) after guiding the men to a dominating victory at the conference meet – the program's third-straight under Cole's watch. Backed by six individual titles, the men accumulated the conference's second-highest team score in 14 years – a 226.50 point performance that bettered the rest of the Mountain West by nearly 70 points.
| CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS |
| MW Men's Field Performer of the Meet: Texas Tanner |
| 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 by placing within the top three of their respective events. The Falcons combined for 19 all-MW awards (17 individual honors, two relays) – a tally that matched the fifth-highest total by Air Force at an outdoor championship meet.
Tanner was one of six individuals to capture gold medals over the weekend after winning their respective events. Juniors Darek Hackett (400-meter hurdles) and Jalan Rivers (high jump) successfully defended their Mountain West titles, while senior Braeden Holcombe captured his second decathlon championship in the last three outdoor meets. In addition, senior Luke Combs became the program's first 10,000-meter champion since 2015 and junior Joe Nizich claimed the Falcons' men's javelin title since 2017.
Hackett and Rivers led Air Force to 1-2 finishes in their events, as junior Cameron Breier captured his second-straight silver medal in the 400-meter hurdles and freshman Devin Jordan earned the same placement in the high jump during his first championship meet. The men also accounted for two of the top-three finishes in the hammer throw, as senior Gerrit Tamminga picked up a third-place finish to join Tanner on the podium.
Breier captured an additional silver medal, as he teamed up with freshman James Warmbrod IV, senior Philip Hundl and senior Alex Patton for a runner-up finish in the 4x400-meter relay. Junior Javin Bostic led Air Force with three silver medals, as he placed second in the 100- and 200-meter sprints and anchored the runner-up 4x100-meter relay with sophomore Jettason Rose, senior Jackson Connelly, and freshman Jace Martin. Senior Brandon Lindner rounded out the Falcons' list of silver medalists with a runner-up finish in the long jump.
As a program, the Falcons medaled in both 5000-meter races, as junior Ally Peterson finished third in the women's race and senior Eli Bennett earned the same placement in the men's. Junior Jason Renze added a bronze medal in the 3000-meter steeplechase, while classmate Robert Postell's third-place finish in the pole vault marked the 17th-straight year that Air Force has earned at least one podium finish in that event.
The men's 18 all-conference awards were the most by any men's team in the conference this spring.
| ALL-CONFERENCE HONOREES |
| Men's 100-Meter Dash: Javin Bostic (second-place finish) |
| Men's 200-Meter Dash: Javin Bostic (second-place finish) |
| Men's 5000-Meter Run: Eli Bennett (third-place finish) |
| Women's 5000-Meter Run: Ally Peterson (third-place finish) |
| Men's 10,000-Meter Run: Luke Combs (MW champion) |
| Men's 400-Meter Hurdles: Darek Hackett (MW champion) |
| Men's 400-Meter Hurdles: Cameron Breier (second-place finish) |
| Men's 3000-Meter Steeplechase: Jason Renze (third-place finish) |
| Men's High Jump: Jalan Rivers (MW champion) |
| Men's High Jump: Devin Jordan (second-place finish) |
| Men's Pole Vault: Robert Postell (third-place finish) |
| Men's Long Jump: Brandon Lindner (second-place finish) |
| Men's Discus Throw: Texas Tanner (MW champion) |
| Men's Hammer Throw: Texas Tanner (MW champion) |
| Men's Hammer Throw: Gerrit Tamminga (third-place finish) |
| Men's Javelin Throw: Joe Nizich (MW champion) |
| Men's Decathlon: Braeden Holcombe (MW champion) |
| Men's 4x100m Relay (second-place finish) |
| Men's 4x400m Relay (second-place finish) |
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
400m Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Decathlon
/ Track and Field
Hurdles, High Jump
/ Track and Field
Long Jump, Triple Jump
/ Track and Field
Long Jump, Triple Jump
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Javelin
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
High Jump
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
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