Buffs Excel On Second Day Of the Air Force Invite
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY - University of Colorado senior Alex Kizirian only seems to know how to win as he recorded his third victory in as many meets by winning the weight throw on Friday at the Air Force Invitational.
The Thornton, Colo. native won the event with a throw of 69-0, more than five feet further than Colorado State's Jake Schneeberger (63-10.25). Kizirian led the Buffs, but he wasn't the only one who did well. Brady Rutt placed seventh in the weight throw with a mark of 56-4.50. Paden Gatlin was 20th (44-0.75) and Matthew Denton placed 22nd (40-10.25).
Sophie Hallam-Eames was the top female thrower for CU, placing ninth with a toss of 53-2.75. Mariah Walker was 13th overall (50-9.25) and Kellie Lind finished just behind Walker at 14th (50-1.75). Makenzie Kline took 22nd with a mark of 36-11.75.
Freshman Andrew Ghizzone also had a great day in the heptathlon, finishing fifth overall with 4,763 points. He started the day 13th and quickly went to work. Ghizzone raced to a seventh place finish in the 60-meter hurdles, crossing the finish in 8.83 seconds. He moved on to the pole vault and cleared a huge personal best of 14-11, which was second in the heptathlon. Ghizzone finished strong by winning the 1,000-meter run in 2:46.03.
Several of CU's sprinters advanced to the finals of their respective events on Saturday. Lindsy Mattson won the women's 400 preliminary in 56.81. She will be joined in the finals by teammate Rajon O'Quinn who placed eighth in 57.89. Ana Holland was the top runner in the women's 200, crossing the finish is 24.46. She also qualified for the finals of the 60 with a third place finish in 7.58.
Tashay Brown will also run in the finals of the 200 and the 60 for CU. She was third in the 200 prelims (24.87) and took 11th in the 60 prelims (7.82). O'Quinn will join Brown and Holland in the 60, as she picked up a qualifying spot by placing 14th in 7.85.
On the men's side, Jaron Thomas won the prelims of the 60-meter hurdles, clocking in at 8.15. Teammate Isaiah Kaiser will join him in the finals as he was 12th overall in 8.74.
Austin Mitsch also advanced to Saturday's finals in a pair of events. He placed third in the 200 (21.74) and was eighth in the 60 (6.95). Jaylyn Mars and Darrin Haynes were the final two Buffs who qualified for the finals, both in the 400. Mars was seventh, finishing in 49.40, while Haynes was 10th in 49.64.
The final day of the Air Force Invitational is Saturday.
2015 AIR FORCE INVITATIONAL
Cadet Field House (U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.)
Heptathlon (Day 2)
(1. Michael McPherson, Utah Valley, 5,405) 5. Andrew Ghizzone, 4,763
60-Meter Hurdles: (1. Michael McPherson, UV, 8.25) 7. Ghizzone, 8.83
Pole Vault: (1. Justin Green, CSU, 16-2.75) 2. Ghizzone, 14-11
1,000-Meters: 1. Ghizzone, 2:46.03
Track Events
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles (prelims): 1. Jaron Thomas, 8.15q; 12. Isaiah Kaiser, 8.74q
Women's 60-Meters (prelims): (1. Lorenda Holston, CSU, 7.54) 3. Ana Holland, 7.58q; 11. Tashay Brown, 7.82q; 14. Rajon O'Quinn, 7.85q; 22. Mia Holland, 8.07
Men's 60-Meters (prelims): (1. Chaz Butler, ASC, 6.75) 8. Austin Mitsch, 6.95q; 21. Jay Skine, 7.14
Women's 400-Meters (prelims): 1. Lindsy Mattson, 56.81q; 8. Rajon O'Quinn, 57.89q
Men's 400-Meters (prelims): (1. Sean Adams, BYU, 48.65) 7. Jaylyn Mars, 49.40q; 10. Darrin Haynes, 49.64q; 20. Garrett Losty, 50.45; 24. Erik Gaytan, 50.80; 25. Isaiah Kaiser, 50.99; 30. Jaron Thomas, 51.33
Women's 200-Meters (prelims): 1. Ana Holland, 24.46q; 3. Tashay Brown, 24.87q; 16. Mia Holland, 25.96
Men's 200-Meters (prelims): (1. Chaz Butler, ASC, 21.60) 3. Austin Mitsch, 21.74q
q-qualified for finals on Saturday
Field Events
Men's Weight Throw: 1. Alex Kizirian, 69-0; 7 Brady Rutt, 56-4.50; 20, Paden Gatlin, 44-0.75; 22. Matthew Denton, 40-10.25
Men's High Jump (non-seeded): (1. Andy Bowles, CSU, 6-6.75) 5. Mason Chronowski, 6-0.75
Women's Weight Throw: (1. Shreese Daniels, UW, 63-11) 9. Sophie Hallam-Eames, 53-2.75; 13. Mariah Walker, 50-9.25; 14. Kellie Lind, 50-1.75; 22. Makenzie Kline, 36-11.75