Melissa Fuerst

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Class: Junior Hometown: Blue Springs, Mo. High School: Blue Springs

Height: 5-2 Event: 800m, 1500m

SOPHOMORE (2011): Received the Callie Calhoun Award for Drive and Determination...clocked the seventh-fastest outdoor 3000-meter time in Academy history at the UC Irvine Spring Break Invitational (10:00.55)...earned the team's Track Athlete of the Week award following that meet...scored for the Falcons at the outdoor conference championships by recording an eighth-place finish in the 1500-meter run (4:33.52a)...that time was the fastest on the team...also recorded the third-fastest time on the team (2:18.38, adjusted for altitude) at the Colorado Invitational...ran the anchor leg of the distance medley relay team that clocked the third-fastest time in Academy history (12:12.44a) at the Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships...also ran a leg of the DMR team that won the Air Force Invitational...clocked a career-best time of 5:12.62 in the mile at the Nebraska adidas Invitational.

FRESHMAN (2010): Competed in the 800-meter and 1500-meter distances during the outdoor season...clocked career-best times in both races at the Colorado Invitational...ran a non-adjusted 2:31.44 in the 800-meter run and clocked an adjusted time of 4:53.50 in the 1500-meter run during that race...ran the mile and 3000-meter distances during the indoor season...clocked an altitude converted time of 5:28.98 in the mile at the Air Force Invitational...finished the 3000-meter race at the Don Barrett Duals with a career-best 11:07.82a.

HIGH SCHOOL: Blue Springs High School...all-conference selection in cross country and track...three-time competitor at the Missouri state cross country championships...all-district honoree in track...competed on the 4x800-meter relay team that competed at the state championship meet...ranked eighth in graduating class...named to the Principal's Honor Roll...member of the National Honor Society...served as NHS vice-president.

PERSONAL: Full name is Melissa Lee Fuerst...nickname is Mel...daughter of Leland and Alice Fuerst...has one older sister, Christina...majoring in systems engineering management...future plans include becoming an officer in the Air Force...served as A-1 Element Leader...has also served as B-2 Element NCO...named to the Superintendent's List for excellence in military, academic and athletic performance...enjoys sewing and reading...spent the summer completing Operation Air Force at Nellis AFB, Nevada...earned all-conference honors at the 2011 Mountain West Cross Country Championships...also earned the MWC Athlete of the Week award once in 2011...member of Cadet Squadron 29.