Kip Janvrin Open begins Thursday

INDIANOLA - The Simpson College track and field program will host the sixth annual Kip Janvrin Open this Thursday - Friday, April 28-29.

Student-athletes from 39 colleges and universities across the nation will take part in the meet, which is named after Simpson track and field great, Kip Janvrin.

A 1988 graduate of Simpson, Janvrin is one of the most acclaimed performers in the history of NCAA Division III track and field. He won a total of five national championships in his career - three in the decathlon, one in the pole vault and one in the 400-meter hurdles. He ended his career as a 10-time All-American.

Janvrin is the all-time winningest athlete at the Drake Relays with 17 titles and represented the United States at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, finishing 20th in the decathlon.

Simpson re-named the Simpson Twilight Open the Kip Janvrin Open in 2006.

Competition begins at 2 p.m. Thursday with the men's and women's hammer and discuss throws. Running events and the remainder of the field events get underway Friday at 2 p.m. Running events will be held at Buxton Stadium.

For a schedule of events, field events map and more information on the meet, click here.