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Air Force Athlete Squeezes in Time for Track Between Studies, Football By Tim Mimick/The Colorado Springs Gazette (2/25)
Feb. 25, 2000
Kurt Duffy should write a paper titled "My Daily Clock Has 30 Hours." Calling his life hectic isn't right because that implies out of control. Duffy, an Air Force junior, has developed into a sandy blond-haired model of structure. When it's between 6 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. most weekdays, he's busy with classes, military duties and meals. From 2:30-6:30 p.m., he's at Cadet Field House. After dinner and from 7:30 p.m. to around midnight, he's studying, writing term papers or accomplishing some other academic chore. No wonder Duffy picked pentathlon as one of his events on the Air Force men's track and field team. There are five events to keep him busy. On Thursday, he finished fifth in the event at the Mountain West Conference indoor championships in Cadet Field House. His total of 3,474 points was beaten by three Brigham Young athletes and the 3,884 by champion Doug Crumb of Colorado State. "I'll take it, but I did better last year and I was hoping to go about 3,600," Duffy said. His personal-best 21 feet, 11/4 inches in the long jump brought some satisfaction, even though it placed him fifth in the event among the nine entrants. He brushed off the 1,000-meter time of 2 minutes, 49.49 seconds for second place. A sprained right ankle still needs a bundle of tape, but not a shred of complaint from him. He won't kick back today on the second of three days for the league meet. He's entered in the high jump and the 60-meter hurdles. He's also an alternate on the mile relay. Didn't Air Force officials tell him three years ago when he was graduating from Windsor High School that he'd be busy enough without sports? "They give you a little hint," said Duffy, who majors in business management. With all that already to keep him buzzing around the academy, Duffy also plays football. College football isn't during only the autumn. In the winter, there's monitored conditioning in the weight room. And don't forget spring football. Coach Fisher DeBerry didn't. "We expect him to be at most of the spring football practices," DeBerry said. "He's got a chance to start (at strong cornerback). He's fighting for everything he can." Duffy chuckled over the notion that he might have football erased from his sections of his schedule. "I plan to be at every spring practice, except maybe one if it's on April 22," he said. "We have a (track) meet at Army that day." Air Force track coach Ralph Lindeman doesn't worry about Duffy wearing out like a 2-year-old track shoe. He marvels at the energy possessed by Duffy and a few other two-sport Air Force competitors. "He's an inspiration to our younger athletes," Lindeman said. "They see what he's doing. They see the dedication it takes.
"I go to a football game and I was excited to see him start at the end of last season. I'm full of pride."
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