@fullname - Track and Field - Air Force Academy Athletics

Photo by: Justin Tafoya, NCAA Photos

Lindsey Blanks

Class:
Freshman
Position:
1500m | 5000m
Hometown:
Yorktown, Va.
High School:
Tabb

JUNIOR YEAR | 2018-19: Broke the Academy record in the 3000-meter steeplechase twice...NCAA qualifier...clocked a program-best time of 10:14.77 to finish fifth out of 24 runners at the Mt. SAC Relays...first broke the Academy record during a 10:17.72 performance at the Stanford Invitational...that was a nine-second improvement over the previous record that had stood for six years...named the Air Force Cadet-Athlete of the Week following that meet...ran on the 4x1600-meter relay that clocked the third-fastest time in program history (19:53.08) to finish fifth at the Drake Relays...also impacted the Academy’s all-time standings in the 5000-meter run during the indoor season...registered the sixth-fastest time in program history at the Husky Classic...one of three Falcons to clock top-six times in the 5000-meter run at that meet...competed in the 3000-meter run twice, posting a career-best 9:46.80 (adjusted for altitude) at the Mountain West Indoor Championships...academic all-conference...MW Scholar-Athlete.

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2017-18: Registered the second-fastest 3000-meter steeplechase in Academy history (10:29.04) at the Mt. SAC Relays...that time is also a new Sophomore Class Record...competed in the 3000-meter (season-best 10:01.03, adjusted for altitude) and 5000-meter (career-best 17:35.41a) events at the MW Indoor Championships...MW Scholar-Athlete.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2016-17: Impacted the Academy record book in four events...set the program record in the 2000-meter steeplechase during a 7:12.05 performance at the Baldy Castillo Classic...clocked the second-fastest 3000-meter steeplechase in Academy history (10:47.31) to finish second at the Beach Invitational...that is a new Freshman Class record...earned the team’s Track Athlete of the Week award after both meets...ran on the 4x1600-meter relay that set a school record at the Drake Relays (19:34.06)...anchored the distance medley relay that clocked the eighth-fastest time in Air Force history at the Mountain West Indoor Championships (12:05.02, adjusted for altitude)...competed in the 800-meter run (2:23.04a, Air Force Collegiate Open), mile (5:12.37a, Potts Invitational) and 3000-meter run (10:00.67a, MW Championships) during the indoor season...won the 3000-meter event at the Air Force Team Challenge (10:24.55a)...ran the 1500-meter (4:44.18, Johnson/Joyner Kersee Invitational) and 5000-meter (17:22.03a, Mountain West Outdoor Championships) events during the outdoor season...academic all-conference selection...MW Scholar-Athlete.

MAJOR CROSS COUNTRY HIGHLIGHTS: Member of the only two teams in Academy history that have competed at the NCAA Division I Championships...one of only two females to make multiple trips to the DI national championship meet...was the No. 5 runner on the 2016 squad that made the program’s first-ever team appearance at the NCAA Championships...held the No. 3 spot (61st of 254 runners) on the 2019 team that finished eighth...ran on the 2016 and 2019 teams that finished second at the conference meet and third at the regional meet...all-conference selection...earned second-team status after placing ninth at the Mountain West Championships in 2019...helped Air Force to the highest national women’s ranking (12th) in Academy history as a senior.

HIGH SCHOOL: Tabb High School...won the Virginia 3A state title in the 1600-meter run as a senior...also ran on the 4x800-meter relay that won the state title that year...four-time runner-up at the state championships...won 19 conference and regional titles...holds 10 THS cross country and track records (seven individual events, three relays)...named the Peninsula Sports Club Female Athlete of the Year in 2016...also selected as the club’s Most Outstanding Female Track Athlete of the Year (2015) and Most Outstanding Female Cross Country Athlete of the Year (2016)...received Tabb High School’s Marine Corps Award...member of the National Honor Society...served as NHS treasurer as a senior...PTSA Liaison in student council...finalist for the 2015 VHSL Creative Writing State Championship...maintained a weighted GPA of 4.5 (unweighted 4.0)...graduated with Highest Honors.

PERSONAL: Full name is Lindsey Karin Blanks...nickname is “LB”...daughter of Dave and Kathleen Blanks...both parents served in the Air Force...has three sisters (one older, two younger)...majoring in operations research...future plans include becoming a pilot...served as the Cadet Wing’s Deputy Character Officer for Operations...named to the Superintendent’s List for excellence in military, academic and athletic performance...hobbies include baking, watching movies, hiking and traveling...member of Cadet Squadron 32.