Simpson women take second at Dick Young Classic

GRINNELL, Iowa – The Simpson women's track and field team turned crowned six medalists on its way to a second place finish of 16 teams at Grinnell's Dick Young Classic at Les Duke Track.

Nebraska Wesleyan won the event with 210 points, followed by Simpson with 126. Mount Mercy took third (108), followed by Graceland (66.5) and Grand View (63) to round out the top five. Iowa Conference foes in attendance were Cornell (6th, 37), Central (8th, 30) and Coe (13th, 14.5).

Lauren Bucklin (Bondurant, Iowa/Bondurant-Farrar) claimed three top finishes for the Storm, taking first in the 100-meter hurdles (14.55), the 400-meter hurdles (64.52) and helping Simpson to a first-place finish in the 4x100-meter relay (4:01.09). Bucklin's effort in the 100 hurdles reached a provisional qualifying standard while she ran a season-best time in the 400 hurdles and helped Simpson achieve its best time of the year in the 4x100.

Kinsey Bak (Hinton, Iowa/Hinton) added a first-place performance in the high jump, winning the event with a leap of 5-6. Her effort improves her provisional qualifying mark and gives her the third-best height in NCAA Division III.

Simpson picked up its other medalist honors in the middle and long-distance events. Catie Ellingson (Indianola, Iowa/Indianola) registered Simpson's best time of the year in the 800 meters, winning the event in 2:15.50, less than a second away from provisional qualification. Jess Christensen (Harlan, Iowa/Harlan) put forth Simpson's other first-place effort, winning the 5,000 meters (18:07.65).

Sarah Hammell (Dorchester, Iowa/Waukon) gave the team its only second-place finish on the day, running a season-best time of 4:45.45 in the 1500 meters.

Two more Simpson athletes gave season-best efforts on the day, as April Sigmund (Jewell, Iowa/South Hamilton) took third in the 400 meters (60.93) and Kellie Whitney (Oshkosh, Wis./North) took third in the triple jump (33-6).

Lauren Anderson (Oakland, Iowa/Riverside) placed third in the 100-meter hurdles (15.56), Molly Sabers (Iowa City, Iowa/City) placed third in the 400-meter hurdles (66.40), Chelsey Degen (Algona, Iowa/Algona) placed third in the discus throw (122-1) and Ali Hagerty (Tama, Iowa/South Tama) placed third in the javelin throw (113-4), rounding Simpson's top finishers.

Joining Bucklin on the winning 4x100-meter relay team were Sigmund, Hammel and Ellingson.

The Storm will take part in two events this weekend, beginning with Simpson's own Kip Janvrin Open on April 22-23. Simpson will also send its 4x100, 4x200, 4x440 and sprint medley relays to Drake. Also, Bucklin will participate as the only Division III athlete in the 100-meter hurdles and Ellingson will be the only Division III athlete in the 800 meters.