Lyman's Jordan Armstrong Accepts Appointment To Air Force Academy


Lyman senior Jordan Armstrong has made his college decision. Armstrong took to social media to make the announcement.

"I am officially accepting my appointment to the Air Force Academy and committing to @AF_trackfield Go Falcons!"

During his time as a Greyhound, he finished 12th, 8th, and 5th respectively at the 4A Cross Country Finals and was an integral part of the team's state championship run in the fall. His track credentials are equally impressive finishing 5th in the 3,200m and 3rd in the 1,600m at the state meet in May and boasting personal bests of 4:19.16 and 9:30.90. Armstrong who is one of the top students at Lyman High School and a Valedictorian candidate will mostly likely major in Applied Physics.

See what else he had to say about his college choice.

FLRunners: What was the recruiting process like for you and where else did you consider visiting?

Jordan Armstrong: I had started the process going into my junior track season to get an idea of the times that coaches would be looking for me to hit as a junior on the track.  I tried to spread my name wide to a variety of schools that matched the criteria that I was looking for. I had talked to coaches from programs such as Stanford and Villanova and programs that expressed more interest such as FSU, UF, NAU, Harvard, and the Air Force Academy. Recruiting was something that took priority behind my school work and running, as I had to keep on track and improving in those areas, but something that I always look forward to each day. It was cool experience hearing from a variety of different coaches and having them want you to become part of their program. 

FLR: How did it differ with what you had to do to get into Air Force Academy and applying to get in?

JA: The Air Force Academy has a very different application process and I will explain that here for anyone else that has potential interest in the program. You must first apply as a pre-candidate with initial test scores, academic performances, and general extracurricular activities to get screened for opening an application. You must complete the normal steps such as sending in your transcripts and test scores (AFA has an average ACT score of 30 among incoming freshmen) as well as getting a school profile from your guidance counselor.  You must complete 2 essays and one third optional essay, one being a crossroads or dilemma you faced, how you dealt with it, and how it has impacted you as a future person with similar situations in the future. There was a Candidate Fitness Assessment that consisted of a basketball throw, sit-ups, pullups, push-ups, shuttle run, and mile run all in a timed setting with each score earning you points. There were 3 required letters of recommendation: from your junior or senior English teacher, from your junior or senior math teacher, then one from a list they give you of your JROTC instructor, guidance counselor, or principal. You may also send in 3 optional but strongly recommended letters of recommendation of your choice. Lastly, you had to complete an extracurricular activities questionnaire, pass an eye exam, pass a health physical (both at designated locations), and a general information questionnaire about yourself. Lastly, it takes an act of congress to get into an academy. Therefore, you must submit a separate application and go before a review board that a senator or congressmen has designated. Each senator or congressmen can only nominate 5 students, so it was a very competitive process to receive those nominations. It was a very rewarding process where I learned quite a bit about myself and, at the same time, I now complied everything that I would need to apply with any other college! 

FLR: What sold you on the Air Force Academy?

JA: I was sold originally from the challenge it presented. It was the best fit of academics (a top ranked nationally engineering program), athletics (being nationally ranked for cross country and track), but most importantly it was the type of person that AFA looks for. AFA instills strong moral principles upon its students. At AFA, each of the three pillars of academics, athletics, and character are equally important. Their core values are Integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. After taking my visit out to gorgeous Colorado Springs, I was completely sold. The campus is situated up on the side of the Rockies and is breathtaking. What really got me was the coach and team. These student-athletes were some of the most driven and hardworking guys that I had met. The coursework they take is of the highest level nationally while still filling their athletic and militaristic requirements on campus. Yet, no matter what, the group of guys were still down to earth and were an absolute blast to be around. The recruits got to go out with the team to downtown Colorado Springs each of the 2 nights of our visit. We went bowling and played laser tag as a team with a majority of the distance guys and it was a group of knuckleheads. It is all about compartmentalizing at AFA. I am looking forward to the challenge the Academy itself presents while showing the nation that we can do what we do academically while fulfilling our military requirements and still compete with the top programs on a national level. The dedication and focus combined with how close and caring Coach Cole is with each and every runner blew my mind.  He creates plans for each individual runner's needs. This is the program I want to be part of and I was sold already on my plane ride home from my visit. 

FLR: Not only is it a new distance at the college level, but training at altitude and colder temperatures will be new as well. How do you think that transition will be?

JA: At AFA, I will have to report to campus on June 30th for Basic Cadet Training. BCT is a 6 week program that all incoming freshmen are required to go through, and it definitely makes you deep inside to find yourself. As a result, training will be delayed for a while until I complete this training, but it allow 6 weeks for to adapt to the about 7,000ft elevation of the facilities. After BCT, Coach Cole does a great job of transitioning the new guys slowly and building into the cross country and track seasons. Coach Cole is all about developing the athletes.  It is a process, and it will be a very large amount of change to handle my first year there. Coach Cole has told the recruits that the first year is all about acclimating to the new environment and demands of AFA while building a base and starting place for our next 3 years. AFA's distance programs is one of the best national programs for developing athletes. Zach Perkins only ran about 4:20 for the 1600 in high school and finished runner-up in the 1500m at NCAA Nationals twice. Similarly, Patrick Corona ran 4:23 and 9:55 in high school and now has made the National Championships in XC and is currently leading the nation indoors for the mile. I cannot wait to carry on the tradition of development and excellence of this program. 

FLR: know you're going to be the valedictorian. How important was that balance of education and athletics?

JA: Education for me has always come first. As Coach Finke has always called us student-athletes, and being a student comes first. I am dedicated in the classroom and have taken 12 AP classes before senior year and I currently have another 6 this year plus my engineering dual enrollment class that I am taking. In the classroom and on the track, I never settle for less than giving my best and working my hardest to achieve my goals. I am on path to finish high school with a 4.0 unweighted GPA and be the senior class valedictorian. When looking for a school, it was equally important to find a top ranked nationally engineering program and a top ranked nationally distance program, which is why AFA is the best fit for me. 

FLR: What do you plan to major in? What is the commitment like after you graduate to get right into the service? 

JA: I had originally planned to major in a field of engineering, but now I am planning on majoring in Applied Physics. I had taken AP Physics 1 last year, and I am taking AP Physics 2 and AP Physics C both this year, and I have fallen in love with physics with it also being something that I excel at. After graduation, there is a select groups of cadets who continue on to Law school, med school, or graduate school. Similarly, there is a WCAP program for athletes who have hit Olympic trails standards in the 2 years prior to the Olympics to pay for their training. While at AFA, they pay for everything college wise and I am even get a certain amount of money each month. Basically, in other terms, I believe it is estimated to be about a $500,000 scholarship. After I graduate, I will be a 2nd lieutenant and have to complete a required service in the armed forces. The time at the academy is training us for our service. The service commitment varies based upon further education and other various programs, but in general it is serving as a commissioned officer in the Air Force for at least eight years after graduation, five of which must be active duty and the remainder can be served as inactive reserve. I can follow my major and be a physicist in the armed forces, the military needs all jobs just as civilians would. Not only is it a full scholarship, but it also is a guaranteed job after graduation and I can choose to continue on serving after my required time such as a majority of people do as they fall in love with it and with the Air Force and with the Academy. 

FLR: Last year, you ran 4:19 in the 1600 and 9:30 in the 3200 while being 3rd and 5th at state, respectively.  You've also run 1:56 in the 800, and have been top 10 at Cross Country states twice.  What are the goals for the 2016 track season?

JA: My focus is not really on times, as those will come in the right race when you are properly prepared for it. The Lyman team finished State Runner-Ups on the track side, after being State Team Champions on the XC side. My goal and our team's goal for this season is to put in the proper work so that we are properly prepared for the new two day state finals, and can give it our absolute best shot at securing a state championship on that  day if it is meant to be. We have plans on hopefully going to a big out of state meet, which will be where we hopefully lay down some fast times. The state meet, the out of state meet, as well as FSU and UF relays are the big targets on the calendar. Personally, I want to defend my individual titles at the conference, district, and regional levels from each of the two past years. If I stay healthy and the season ends well, I will be at the Golden South. If training goes how we hope it does and the races are right, I would love to go after the school 800m and 1600m records, but my main and most important focus is getting myself ready to score the most possible points for my team at the state meet. 

JA: How would you sum up your high school career and is there anyone you would like to say thank you for making all this possible?

FLR: Going into high school, I was soccer player who just ran some middle school track meets for fun without training for them. I gave up soccer which I played since the age of about 4 to pursue a running career. I am beyond happy and blessed to come as far as I have over the past 4 years and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for me running wise. I could type pages and pages of thanking people. First off, I want to thank Coach Finke. Without him, I wouldn't have gotten into running as I did. He showed that personal interest in me as soon as I came out to my first high school practice and showed me the potential that I have. He has been developing us to continue on an upswing of faster times through college and past that. I cannot thank him even for all he has done for us. All of the time and money he has put into us and our teams. He has no idea how much he means to each of us, while he is one of the most humble guys you can meet as at every meet and with every accomplishment he puts all of the praise on us. I remember winning states for the first time in school history on the boy's side and people were congratulating him. His response, ah I didn't do anything, it was all them.  We owe it to you and we love you coach. Thank you to both Coach Rivera and Coach Bell for always being there for us and all of the little things that you do day in and day out for us. You could always count on Coach Rivera for her inspirational quotes. "Whether you think you can or can't, you're right." We have become known as the dynamic duo, and you can catch us together in most of our interviews. I have no idea where I would be without him. I have been beyond blessed to have the best training partner that I could ever ask for. We always complimented each other so well in training. I would be nowhere close to where I am today running wise or as a person if it weren't for Josh Jacques. My running success has come directly from him. Watch out for him this season and in college. He is a beast. I want to thank all of my teammates over the years. From Cam and Marcel to the freshmen of this year. Cam and Marcel taught us what we know about running. The greyhounds have always put the team first. It has been a special 4 years with this band of brothers. They make it worth it.  I want to thank my parents for believing in me and supporting me. I couldn't do what I do without their constant unconditional love for me. They keep me going and make me the person that I am. They are the most supportive parents I could ever ask for. I will stop now, but before I do. Most importantly, I want to thank the Lord, our God for the running ability that he has blessed me with and with all of these incredible people he has put in my life. He has given me this life, and I am forever living to glorify him and his greatness. I owe it all to him, and I dedicate all of my success to his blessing. 

Personal Records
  • 800m - 1:56.96
  • 1500m - 4:37.06
  • 1600m - 4:19.16
  • 3200m - 9:30.90
  • 2.x Mile (xc) - 14:25.68
  • 5K (xc) - 15:32.57

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