Distance medley relay team shatters school record in Wisconsin

LA CROSSE, Wis. - The Simpson College men's distance medley relay team shattered the previous school record at the Eagle Open in La Crosse, Wis. on Friday afternoon.

The team composed of James Murray, Brenden Godbout, Adam Gruhn, and Spencer Moon clocked a time of 9:59.06 to become the first DMR team in school history to run under 10 minutes in the event. The previous record of 10:08.63 was set in 2022, with Murray and Moon running the final two legs of that event as well.

Murray was tasked with the leadoff leg this time around, clocking a time of 3:04.91 through 1,200 meters. The next leg was only 400 meters, with Godbout completing the leg in 50.96 seconds, almost a second faster than his normal career-best in the 400 meters. Godbout also moved the Storm up one spot in the race from the 1,200 meter mark.

The race then turned over to Gruhn in the 800 meters. Gruhn ran a blistering 1:56.26 on his leg, which would have beaten his previous career-best in the event by over a second. Gruhn then handed off to Moon for the final leg in the 1,600 meters (mile).

Racing among some of the leading milers in the conference and the nation, Moon clocked a time of 4:06.94, the third-fastest final leg of the 10 teams competing, moving the Storm up to a sixth place finish. Moon's time also was lower than his previous career-best in the indoor mile, which he currently holds the school record in.

The quartet is currently ranked 11th among all DIII teams in the event and will look to improve on the placing during the conference championships next week. The rest of the Storm roster is at Wartburg tomorrow for the Liz Wuertz Invite.