Hammer Throwing Duo Shines at Bobcat Invitational

SAN MARCOS, Texas – It was "hammer time" at the Bobcat Invitational on Saturday (March 29) afternoon, as senior Cooper Stroka and sophomore Paige Birch produced throws that rank among the top-four of their respective all-time lists in the Air Force Record Book.

Stroka unleashed a throw of 64.04 meters (213'5") to move into No. 3 on the men's all-time standings – adding more than three feet to his previous best from last season. With that throw, which occurred on his fourth attempt, Stroka placed third in the 25-thrower "A" section of the hammer. Birch continued Saturday's success in the next "A" event, as she released a 53.80-meter (176'6") throw to add nearly seven feet to her previous best and jump up to No. 4 all-time in the Air Force women's record book. That distance, occurring on her second attempt, also added nearly four feet to the Air Force Sophomore Class Record that Tara Copas had held since 1999.

AIR FORCE TOP 10 MARKS

No. 3 – Cooper Stroka, Men's Hammer Throw (65.04m, 213'4")

No. 4 – Paige Birch, Women's Hammer Throw (53.80m, 176'6")

On the track, senior Taylor Rioux led off the 4x100-meter relay that clocked the 18th-fastest time in program history (48.68, with sophomore Brooke Coleman, freshman Alese Banks, junior Jacqui Spencer), ran the opening leg of the 4x400-meter relay that debuted at No. 24 in the Academy Record Book (3:56.72, with sophomore Allison Fernstrom, sophomore Clara Teigland, freshman Ella Pears), and added a season-opening 55.46 to finish 12th out of 49 runners in the 400-meter dash. Junior Jettason Rose clocked a wind-aided time of 10.54 to finish within the top half of the 50-sprinter field of the 100-meter dash (25th).

The Falcons return to action with three meets next weekend (April 4-5). The distance runners will open their outdoor season at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic and Stanford Invitational in California, while the rest of the team will head to Boulder for the Colorado Invitational.

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