Garrett Blenkush

Photo by: Trevor Cokley

Class:
Senior
Events:
800m
Hometown:
O'Fallon, Ill.
Height:
6-2
High School:
O'Fallon Township
Squadron:
04 Fightin' Fourth

JUNIOR YEAR | 2020-21: Competed in the 800-meter run during six meets (three indoor, three outdoor)…scored for the Falcons in that event at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships (fourth)…posted a career-best, team-leading time of 1:51.54 to take third at the Aztec Invitational…earned the team’s Track Athlete of the Week award following that meet…clocked an indoor-best time of 1:53.76 (adjusted for altitude) to win the Air Force Collegiate Open…added top-five finishes in that event at the Air Force Invitational and UCCS Open…also ran that distance on the 4x800-meter (fourth, 7:31.77) and distance medley (second, 9:42.70) relays that impacted the program’s Top 10 at the Drake Relays…academic all-conference selection…MW Scholar-Athlete.

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2019-20: Competed in the 800-meter run during six indoor meets...clocked a personal-best time of 1:54.90 (adjusted for altitude) to finish fourth at the Air Force Collegiate Open...earned top-five finishes in four of the six meets...academic all-conference selection...MW Scholar-Athlete.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2018-19: Participated in the 800-meter run during eight meets (four indoor, four outdoor)...clocked a career-best outdoor time of 1:56.02 (adjusted for altitude) to finish third at the Doug Max Invitational...used an indoor-best time of 1:56.20a to win the Air Force Open...also competed in the 1000-meter run once, clocking a time of 2:39.48 at the Air Force Holiday Open...academic all-conference selection...MW Scholar-Athlete.

HIGH SCHOOL: O’Fallon Township High School...three-time state qualifier in cross country...three-time all-region selection...two-time all-conference honoree...member of the National Honor Society...graduated Summa Cum Laude...four-time Math Team state qualifier.

PERSONAL: Full name is Garrett Thomas Blenkush...nickname is “Wiggles”...son of Severin and Angie Blenkush...father is a 1991 Academy graduate and member of the track and cross country teams...has one older brother, who graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 2020 and cross-commissioned to be a pilot in the Air Force...majoring in aeronautical engineering...future plans include becoming a developmental engineer in the Space Force…served as Operations Flight Commander for squadron…named to the Dean’s List and Athletic Director’s List...earned Jump Wings in the summer of 2019...hobbies include Formula 1 and shoe collecting...starter on the AFXC basketball team (small forward)...best FIFA player on the team…worked in hypersonic wind tunnels during an internship with CUBRC in Buffalo, New York, over the summer...member of Cadet Squadron 04.