Top Performances of 2010-11: No. 8

Throughout the summer, follow us as we count down Simpson's Top 10 Performances of the 2010-11 season. The school year saw conference champions crowned, records broken and milestones reached. You can re-live the top moments on www.simpsonathletics.com this summer as we count down to No. 1.

No. 8: Ryan Edwardson breaks distance drought at IIAC Championships

Not since 1996 had the Simpson track and field team took home a championship in a distance event at the Iowa Conference Track & Field Championships. That changed Friday, May 13.

Junior Ryan Edwardson ran away from the field in the 10,000 meters at Cornell's Ash Park Stadium in Mount Vernon, giving the Storm their first conference champion in a distance event since Matt Chance 15 years earlier. Edwardson finished the race in 31.42.82, more than 17 seconds in front of second-place finisher Chase Nowak of Cornell. Read the recap here. 

Edwardson came back the next day and ran a personal best time of 15:13.65 in the 5,000 meters, placing fourth.

His performance at the Iowa Conference Championships capped a breakout year for the Spencer, Iowa native. In the fall, Edwardson qualified for the 2010 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Along with senior Catie Ellingson, the duo became the first male and female runners from Simpson to compete at the national championships in the same year since 1989. Read the recap here.

Simpson's Top 10 Performances of 2010-11