Simpson turns in eight first-place efforts

WAVERLY, Iowa - The Simpson indoor track and field teams got their seasons underway Friday night at the Wartburg Relays, taking eight team and individual.

The men's team took five first-place finishes while the women came away with three at the season's first meet, held at Hoover Fieldhouse. Simpson competed against Iowa Conference-rival Wartburg and North Iowa Area Community College at the early-season event.

The men's 800-meter relay team garnered the Storm's lone relay championship, winning the event in 1:34.66. Senior Wardell Watkins turned in a strong performance in the field event, taking first place in both the long jump (21-feet 7 ½ inches) and the triple jump (42-feet 3 ¼ inches). Scott Danielson dominated the shot put with an effort of 44-feet 11 inches, and Kyle Yarkosky finished on top in the pole vault (9-feet, ¼ inches).

On the women's side, 2009 All-American Lauren Bucklin began the new season with a first-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles, taking the event in a time of 9.36 seconds. As the men, Simpson's women triumphed in the 800-meter relay (1:50.89). The Storm added an additional relay victory with a win in the 4X1600-meter relay (22:01).