Texas Tanner Earns Second Bid to NCAA Championships

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Two days after qualifying to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the hammer throw, Air Force senior Texas Tanner secured an extended stay in Oregon by advancing out of NCAA West Prelim in the discus throw, as the men wrapped up their regional action this afternoon (May 29) in Fayetteville.

Tanner opened the three-attempt competition with a throw of 57.04 meters, or 187'2". While that throw would have secured him a top-12 finish and a place in next month's finals, the senior recorded a two-meter improvement on his final throw to vault into fourth (59.27m/194'5") and earn his second NCAA bid of the weekend – and marked the second-straight year that he has advanced to Eugene in both the discus and hammer.

The Falcons had two regional finalists in the discus throw, as sophomore Evan Keefe recorded a throw of 53.92 meters (175'11") to place 25th in his first West Prelim appearance. A pair of Falcons also made their NCAA debuts on the track Friday night, as newly-minted second lieutenant Zach Ayers clocked a time of 14:08.16 to finish 26th in the 5000-meter run and sophomore Junior Allen finished 27th in the 3000-meter steeplechase behind a 8:53.92 finish.

The Falcons close out competition in Fayetteville tomorrow (May 30), when the women return to John McDonnell Field for the final day of the NCAA West Prelim. Air Force will complete in the regional finals of the high jump (2:00 p.m.), 800-meter run (7:05 p.m.) and 5000-meter run (8:10 p.m.) - all times Central.

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