Bethany Gross

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Class: Junior Hometown: Alexandria, S.D. High School: Hanson

Height: 5-7 Event: 400m, Long Jump

SOPHOMORE (2011): Moved into third on the program's all-time list in the 200-meter dash during second indoor meet of collegiate career...clocked a career-best 25.51 at the Nebraska Wesleyan Invitational to lead the team...tallied the fourth-best 400-meter time in Academy history (56.78) to win the Don Barrett Duals...was the top collegiate finisher in the 200-meter dash at the Air Force All-Comers Meet with a time of 25.55...ran a leg of the outdoor 4x400-meter relay team that recorded the fourth-fastest time in program history (3:50.89) at the Mountain West Conference Championships...also scored for the Falcons at that meet with a seventh-place finish in the 400-meter dash...clocked a season-best time of 56.33 at that meet...that time was the best on the team...also led the team in the 200-meter dash, after crossing the finish line of the New Mexico Tailwind Invitational in a season-best time of 25.15...ran a leg of the 4x400-meter relay team that won the Jack Christiansen Invitational...earned the team's Track Athlete of the Week award twice during the indoor season and once during the outdoor season.

FRESHMAN (2010): Earned the team's Newcomer of the Year award...also received the Falcon Award for Spirit and Enthusiasm...entered the program's all-time record book in the 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash and long jump...set two Class record...was also a member of two relay teams that moved into the program's top three...was the top collegiate finisher at the Beach Invitational...clocked a time of 55.71 to finish second overall at that meet...that time is the fifth-fastest in Academy history and a Freshman Class record...clocked the fourth-best 200-meter time in program history during only appearance of the season at that distance...ran a 25.09 at the Front Range Classic...that time is also a Freshman Class record...jumped 18'2¼" at the Mountain West Conference Championships...that distance is the sixth-best mark in Academy history...ran the final leg of the 4x100-meter relay that clocked the second-fastest time in program history (47.73) at the conference championships...also anchored the 4x400-meter relay team that moved into third on the all-time list (3:45.05) at that meet...recorded five top-five finishes...member of the 4x400-meter relay team that won the Military Championships...also accounted for two individual top-five finishes (400-meter dash, long jump) in collegiate debut at the Military Championships...did not compete during the indoor season...was a member of the Air Force women's basketball team.

HIGH SCHOOL: Hanson High School...lettered four years in basketball, six in track and two years in volleyball and tennis...all-state as a senior...all-state tournament as a junior...first-team all-conference as a junior and senior...helped lead Hanson to back-to-back state titles in track as a junior and senior...as a junior, earned first-place finishes in the long jump, 200, 400 and 4x400 relay events at state meet...school record holder in the 2000meter dash, 400-meter dash, 4x400-meter relay and long jump...long jumped 18' 6" as a senior to crack the South Dakota all-time top 10...second-team all-conference in volleyball...served as president of National Honor Society.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Greg and Melody Gross...nickname is "Beth"...has a twin sister, Brigitte, who is the NAIA national champion in the pole vault (indoor and outdoor) at the University of Sioux Falls...also has a younger brother, Andrew...majoring in behavioral sciences...served as Element Leader during Basic Cadet Training...also served as Group Community Service NCO and PEER...member of the "500 Club" for obtaining a perfect score on the PFT...spent the summer completing Operation Air Force at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., and receiving a ride in a huey...hobbies include singing, sleeping, reading and doing community service...member of Cadet Squadron 26.