Storm go to Wartburg for final qualifier

WAVERLY, Iowa — A handful of Simpson men's track and field athletes will compete in the Wartburg Final Qualifier on Saturday, March 4, getting one last chance to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. 

The Storm are a lock in two events -- Emmitt Wheatley in the 200 meters and Dylan Kalinay in the 60 hurdles. But the Storm will make a final push in the heptathlon and the 4x400-meter relay.

To qualify for nationals, individual events need to finish among the top 15 in the country while relays need to be among the top 12.

Here's a breakdown of the Storm's hopefuls: 

• Wheatley and Kalinay are set to compete, but will be race-day decisions. Wheatley currently has the No. 7 time in the country in the 200 while Kalinay is No. 8 in the 60 hurdles.

• Isaac Frazier is currently just outside of the picture in the heptathlon. His 4,696 points at the IIAC Championships are 19th in Division III. His goal for the weekend is 4,800 points, with 4,780 giving him a solid chance to qualify. 

• The IIAC Championship 4x400-meter relay is currently 17th in the country when duplicate entries are ruled out. The foursome of Chase Wetterling, Travis Tupper, Jordan Coughenour and Kirk Wicks will try to shave roughly two seconds off the 3:21.51 run at the championships. 

• Matt Pearson -- an alternate on the 4x400 team -- will run the open 400 and Keagan Zwiefel will run the open 200.