Air Force Academy

Sept. 10, 2011

Photo Gallery 1  |  Photo Gallery 2  |  Photo Gallery 3 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Behind a meet-record time of 18:30.72, Air Force senior Jim Walmsleywon the men's 6K race at the season-opening Rust Buster Invitational at Monument Valley Park on Saturday, Sept. 10, in Colorado Springs. Walmsley broke the previous meet mark by 33 seconds, while bettering today's 135-runner field by 15 seconds.

Walmsley was one of three Falcons to finish within the top five and easily break the previous Rust Buster record of 19:03, as junior Matt Bell placed third in 18:47.78 and classmate Jeremy Drenckhahnfinished fifth in 18:59.07.

Three additional Falcons finished within the top 20, including sophomore Isaiah Bragg, who finished 14th in a time of 19:20.33. Junior Andrew Quallio finished 17th in 19:26.14, while sophomore Jake Hawkinsfinished 20th in 19:27.58.

Sophomore Charlie Perkins placed 30th in 19:37.08, while junior Ted Artz finished 32nd with a time of 19:39.73. Sophomore Dan Bailey clocked 19:47.54 to finish 38th, while senior Nick White posted a time of 19:51.04 to finish 42nd. Sophomore Gavin Owen finished 44th in a time of 19:52.87 and his brother, junior Gage Owens, placed 51st with a time of 20:05.93. Juniors Seth Pelletier (20:60.90) and Cameron Edwards (20:14.11) finished 52nd and 58th, respectively, while freshman Elliot Myersrounded out the Falcons that finished within the top half of the field behind a 59th-place time of 20:14.77.

Sophomore Carl Eifert finished 68th in 20:24.82, while sophomore Matt Caldwell (20:44.03) and freshman Ronnie Elly (20:45.43) finished 82nd and 89th, respectively. Fellow freshman Zach Christenson placed 89th with a time of 21:05.26, while sophomore Alex Lindsayrounded out Air Force's roster with a time of 21:25.52 (103rd).

On the women's side, juniors Kate Kanetzky and Melissa Fuerstwere the top finishing Falcons in the 94-runner field, as they finished sixth (14:43.92) and seventh (14:44.20), respectively.

Air Force claimed three additional top-15 finishes and eight total placements within the top 25.

Junior Jen Bremser clocked in at 14:55.52 to finish 12th, while senior Katie Carroll crossed the finish line in 15:13.64 to place 13th. Freshman Heather Connick added a 15th-place time of 15:17.99, while sophomore Carley Gross (21st, 15:38.86), classmate Amanda Blain (24th, 15:44.09) and freshman Rachel Sykes(25th, 15:45.36) placed within the top 25.

Freshman Rebecca Esselstein finished 29th with a time of 15:52.06 and Falcons followed with seven of the next nine finishes. Included in that run were sophomore Adrianna Dong (30th, 15:52.33), classmate Annette Eichenberger (32nd, 15:54.44), senior Alexa Ramsier (34th, 15:57.29), freshman Taylor Drolshagen (35th, 15:57.57), freshman Emily Hazen (36th, 15:58.09), junior Morgan Mosby (37th, 16:01.66) and freshman Marie Rossillon(38th, 16:08.90).

Sophomore Tasha Mayne (42nd, 16:16.37), sophomore Stephaney Saari (46th, 16:25.92), freshman Michelle Ferguson (51st, 16:41.43) and freshman Christine Hagen (75th, 17:58.80) rounded out Air Force's runners.

The Falcons return to action next Saturday (Sept. 17), when they travel to Lincoln, Neb., for the annual Woody Greeno Invitational at Pioneer Park.