A group of Air Force field event athletes began the outdoor season with strong performances on March 20, highlighted by a record-breaking javelin throw at the Dr. Dan Caprioglio Invitational held at the ThunderBowl in Pueblo.
The opening day saw freshman Cadee Alder deliver a standout performance in the women’s javelin, achieving a throw of 48.60 meters (159’5″) on her fifth attempt. This mark not only secured first place among 23 competitors but also became the third-best throw in Air Force history and broke the Freshman Class Record previously held by Paige Blackburn since 2009.
Another freshman, Arianna Valenzuela, made her debut in the javelin with a tenth-place finish and entered the program’s all-time standings at No. 24 with a throw of 39.30 meters (128’11”). Valenzuela also contributed to improvements in the hammer throw record book, placing sixth with a distance of 49.46 meters (162’3″), which ranks No. 15 all-time for Air Force. Junior Paige Birch opened her season with a fourth-place finish in the hammer throw at 51.85 meters (170’1″), while junior Ansley Bishop finished eighth and entered the record book at No. 20 after achieving a personal best of 46.38 meters (151’10”).
In other events, sophomore Ella Pears placed fourth in her first triple jump competition of the season, recording a distance of 48.60 meters (159’5″). On the men’s side, freshmen Cameron Downing and sophomore Trenton Groff earned ninth and tenth place respectively in their collegiate debuts for javelin, while senior Massimo Grisotto finished tenth in hammer throw with a mark of 49.81 meters (163’5″).
The remainder of Air Force’s track and field team is scheduled to compete on March 21 as action continues at the ThunderBowl during the Dr. Dan Caprioglio Invitational.
