Simpson kicks off IIAC Championships

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Ben Coy turned in the top qualifying time in the 400-meter dash to lead the Simpson track and field teams on the first day of the Iowa Conference Championships on Friday.

Through six events scored, the women's team is in eighth place while the men's team is ninth through five events.

Coy won the preliminaries in the 400 meters, breaking the tape in 49.17 seconds. He also qualified for the finals in the 200 (22.03).

Matt Stone qualified for the finals in the 800, taking fourth in 2:01.31.

In finals competition, Josh Diehm took eighth in the high jump, clearing 6-feet, 3/4 inches.

On the women's side, Simpson three runners qualified for finals.

Catie Ellingson posted the fourth-fastest qualifying time in the 800 meters (2:17.59) and Bayley Fleshner did the same in the 100-meter hurdles (14.83). Sammy Nelson made the cut in the 400 hurdles, finishing in 1:07.07.

In finals competition, Fleshner gave Simpson two points with a seventh-place effort in the long jump (16-9 3/4).

Lightning caused postponement of the men's 10,000 meters and both the men's and women's 4x800-meter relays. Both events will take place Saturday, beginning with the 10,000 followed by the relays.

The 2012 Iowa Conference Track and Field Championships conclude Saturday.