Fast runways at Air Force await

The Grand Canyon track and field team returns to the Air Force Academy on Friday after not competing at the campus near Colorado Springs, Colo., last season.

"The Academy puts on high-quality meets and the runways (long jump, triple jump and pole vault) are considered some of the fastest in the country, which should produce some big marks for our student-athletes," GCU head coach Tom Flood said.

"It will be very tough to win the meet because we will be traveling with a limited number of student-athletes, while Air Force and Colorado State will be competing their full rosters."

The Lopes will need strong performances in the Air Force Team Challenge from their veteran jumpers and sprinters, as well as strong marks from their younger throwing core.

GCU received strong jumps last week from high jumpers Andrew Okonkwo and Chris Linnin Jr., in Flagstaff at the NAU Friday Night Duals, where the Lopes also posted strong times from senior Daniel Flores in the 1-mile run time and sophomore Knowledge Omovoh in the 400-meter dash.

The Lopes have strong connections with Air Force and Colorado State.

Flood coached at Colorado State, where he coached current GCU assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Chris Riggs.

Lopes associate head coach Todd Lehman got his first coaching stint under Air Force head coach and Team USA head coach Ralph Lindeman, who also was Flood's jumps coach at Arizona State.

"It's always a privilege to compete at Air Force Academy, what makes this meet extra special is Ralph was also my jumps coach at Arizona State and gave Todd his first coaching job at the Academy," Flood said. "It's always fun to compete against Colorado State, as I coached there from 1999 to 2003 and I coached Chris Riggs while he was a Rams student-athlete."

The first event will begin at 3 p.m. (Phoenix time) with the women's weight throw and pole vault.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Daniel Flores

Chris Linnin Jr.

Andrew Okonkwo

Knowledge Omovoh

Grand Canyon University Athletics