Carina Gillespie

Class:
Senior
Height:
5-7
Hometown:
San Diego, Calif.
High School:
Otay Ranch

JUNIOR YEAR | 2016: Competed in six meets, including the conference, regional and national championships...was the Falcons’ top finisher in five races...earned all-region status after finishing third in the 135-runner NCAA Mountain Regional...clocked a career-best 6K time of 20:17.8 at that meet to move into fourth on the program’s all-time list...claimed first-team all-conference honors after finishing third at the Mountain West Championships...posted a (then) best time of 20:17.9 to lead Air Force to a runner-up finish in the team standings...finished 14th out of 285 runners at the Pre-National Invitational (20:29.3)...recorded a time of 20:55.3 at the NCAA Championships (121st)...won the season-opening Colorado State Invitational (5K time of 17:33.0) and led Air Force to the team title...clocked an Academy-record 5K time of 16:41.9 to finish 14th out of 185 runners at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational.

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2015: Participated in five meets, including the conference and regional championships...earned all-region honors after finishing 21st at the NCAA Mountain Region Championships (21:35.0)...posted a career-best 6K time of 20:51.3 at the Washington Invitational (45th)...placed within the top-third of the field at the Pre-National Invitational (21:00.2, 76th)...finished 23rd at the Mountain West Championships (24:18.0)...clocked a time of 17:40.7 to finish fifth out of 100 runners at the Colorado State Invitational...that time is the fifth-fastest 5K in the Academy’s Division I history.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2014: Raced in all six competitions as a freshman...clocked a season-best 6K time of 21:47.60 to place 35th at the Mountain West Championships...that was the third-fastest time on the team in 2014...also competed in that distance at the NCAA Mountain Region Championships (22:39.03, 60th), Pre-National Invitational (23:45.90, 126th) and Woody Greeno Invitational (24:07.40 (37th)...clocked a 5K time of 18:18.00 at the Notre Dame Invitational (147th)...opened the season with a 14th-place finish at the Fresno State Invitational (15:22.00, 4200-meter course).

MAJOR TRACK AND FIELD HIGHLIGHTS: Two-time participant at the NCAA Outdoor Championships (1500-meter run: 2016, 2017)...earned top-25 finishes in both meets (2016: 22nd, 2017: 19th)...broke own Academy record in the mile (4:43.02a) to finish second at the 2017 Mountain West Indoor Championships...added the program’s second-fastest 3000-meter time (9:31.51a) at that meet...accounted for the program’s second-fastest 1500-meter run (4:22.25a) and third-fastest 5000-meter run (16:22.08a) at the 2017 MW Outdoor Championships...holds Freshman, Sophomore and Junior Class Records in the 1500-meter and mile events...also holds Class Records in the 3000-meter run (Freshman, Junior) and 5000-meter run (Junior)...led off the 4x1600-meter relay that posted an Academy-best time of 19:34.05 at the Drake Relays...also anchored the distance medley relay that posted the program’s second-fastest time (11:23.94) at that meet.

HIGH SCHOOL: Otay Ranch High School...three-time CIF San Diego Section champion in the 800-meter run...clocked a career-best time of 2:10 at that distance...finished seventh among Division I girls in cross country...recorded a personal-best time of 18:03 on the 5K cross country course...CSF member.

PERSONAL: Full name is Carina Lynn Gillespie...nickname is “Detox”...daughter of Michael and Joann Gillespie...father was an E-8 in the Navy and retired after 24 years of service...has one older sister and one younger sister...majoring in management...future plans include becoming a pilot...served as Squadron Honor Officer...attended the Academy’s Prep School (“C-Squad!”)...hobbies include hiking and cooking...is bilingual and half-Puerto Rican...born at a naval base in Rota, Spain...traveled to eight different countries in Europe...completed Operation Air Force at McConnell AFB, Kan., over the summer...also served as a counselor during Air Force Sports Camps...member of Cadet Squadron 26.