The 2022 edition of the Air Force High School Indoor Open launches off the starting line Friday at 5:30 p.m! Athletes from across the country will descend on the Cadet Field House's 7,048 feet of elevation and battle it out over two days of burning lungs and legs.
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After scanning meet entries, we've come up with six competitions you won't want to miss... Full meet entries can be found here: Air Force HS Open Entries
Girls 800
Riley Stewart heads to Colorado Springs fresh of her US No. 3 4:47.22 mile-clocking from the Millrose Games last week. Clearly the Cherry Creek senior is already running fast, per the usual. Spectators will want to keep an eye on the clock - Stewart is likely eyeing Katie Rainsberger's 2:11.90 meet record.
Last spring Stewart popped a 2:08.22 800 outdoors, and dipped under 2:12 four times. Given her 4:47 last week, the meet record looks within range.
Watch the girl's 800 Saturday at 2:20 p.m.
Boys Long Jump
We've got a battle brewing in the long jump...
Chrisly Kelly-Cannon has put together a stellar indoor season so far, though he'll have competition Saturday. The defending 3A state champion has leapt 24-0 in the long jump already, which is a CO No. 1 by over two-feet. Additionally it's a US No. 7. The Jefferson Academy junior has leapt beyond 23-feet twice, and 22.9.5 all three times he's competed in the event.
If there's anyone who can go the distance with Kelly-Cannon, it looks like Remar Pitter, who's coming down from Campbell County High in Wyoming.
Pitter has showed a similar amount of consistency. In his two outings in the event this season he's gone 23-6.5 for a US No.12, and 22.8.75. Last year he leapt 24-4.5 outdoors.
William Flowers set the meet record at 23-0.5 in 1994 - that's one of the oldest meet records in the books. Based on the start list, it looks like there may be a re-writing of the record books...
The long jump is scheduled for Saturday at 12:00 p.m.
Girls Pole Vault
The girl's pole vault has been a hotly contested event every week this indoor season. And this week is no different.
Starring in the event Saturday will be 3A state champ Anna Willis, 4A state champ Megan Kelleghan, Texas state champ Kashlee Dickinson, and current Colorado leader Kourtney Rathke.
And guess what?
All four have cleared 12-6.5 this season already.
Rathke leads the way with a 12-10 clearance - that's a US No. 14, while Willis and Kelleghan have both cleared 12-6.5, and Dickinson has cleared 12-5.5.
In terms of lifetime PRs regardless of indoors or out, Kelleghan has gone 13-4.5, Willis has gone 13-3, Dickinson has gone 13-0, and Rathke has gone 12-10.
Needless to say, we've got another battle on our hands...
Willis' older sister Andrea Willis currently owns the meet record, and it stands at 13-7.75.
The girl's pole vault is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m.
Boys 60
The boys 60 will see the return of Gavin Sawchuk. The Valor Christian senior has raced just twice so far this indoor season, but both races were top-tier performances. Sawchuck has run 6.87 and 6.81 in the 60 - that's a Colorado No. 1 by nearly two-tenths of a second, and it's a US No. 10.
Courtney Hysaw's meet record of 6.62 has stood since 1997.
Watch the boy's 60 prelims Friday at 6:30 p.m., Semis Saturday at 11:30 a.m., and Finals Saturday at 1:10 p.m.
Girls Triple Jump/Long Jump
Spectators will be treated to watching the best triple jumper in the country perform this weekend.
Agur Dwol is currently the only triple jumper in the country to leap beyond 42-feet this indoor season. She's gone 42-0.75 - a US. No. 1 (and needless to say - a CO No.1.) While that performance alone is impressive, so is her consistency - she's gone over 41-5 all three times she's competed this season, landing at 41-5.75, and 41-7.75.
Danielle Williams set the meet record of 38-9.75 in 1994 - that is one of the oldest meet records still standing.
Based how Dwol has been performing as of late, it looks like that record will go down Saturday. And it might not be the only one Dwol takes...
The Mullen senior is also set to star in the long jump, which she's already leapt 19-11 this season, which is a CO No. 1, and a US No. 5.
Currently the meet record is owned by Maya Evans, and it stands at 19-8.75.
The triple jump is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m., and the long jump is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.
Boys 60 Hurdles
PJ Robinson has run himself onto a new level in recent weeks. The Cherry Creek senior has run personal bests in every event he's competed in. In the 60H he's climbed downwards from 8.27 to 8.15, to more recently a 7.97 clocking just last week - that's a Colorado No.1, and a US No. 13. Robinson is likely to have competition in the form of Carsen Bruns.
Like Robinson, Bruns has also been on the PR Train in the past month. The Rampart senior has run the 60H twice so far, running 8.10, and 8.08. The consistency suggests a breakthrough is just around the corner.
The meet record is owned by Norman Grimes, and it stands at 7.86.
Watch the boy's 60H prelims Friday at 6:30 p.m., Semis Saturday at 11:10 a.m., and Finals Saturday at 12:55 p.m.