Three athletes tabbed as all-region honorees

NEW ORLEANS - One day after being named as qualifiers to the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships, the Simpson College men's track and field trio of Spencer Moon, Ulysses Patterson, and Max Cleveland were named USTFCCCA All-Region honorees.

The three athletes are receiving recognition across four events, with an athlete having to rank in a region's top five in a certain event to garner all-region accolades.

Moon is earning two more all-region honors to add to his resume. The senior currently leads the region in the 5,000 meters with a time of 13:59.20, the current school and conference record. Moon became just the seventh athlete in Division III history to break the 14-minute barrier. He also is second in the region in the 3,000 meters, with another school and conference-record time of 8:04.91. Moon now has an astounding 14 track and field all-region honors throughout his career.

Cleveland is earning his fourth career all-region honor and second straight in the 60 meter hurdles. Cleveland is ranked first in the region with a school and conference record time of 7.95. The local Indianola product is seeking the second All-American award of his career.

Patterson is earning his second career all-region honor, currently ranked second in the region in the heptathlon. Patterson earned 4,871 points to break his own school record at the Wartburg Qualifier this past weekend, qualifying to his first indoor national meet.

All three athletes will compete at the national meet, beginning Friday, in Virginia Beach, Va.