Storm close big week at Drake, Kip Janvrin Open

INDIANOLA, Iowa – The Simpson men's 4x100-meter relay team broke a 23-year old school record in the morning, then won the same relay at the Kip Janvrin Open to cap off a full three days for the Storm track and field teams.

The day began with a bang as the quartet of Emmitt Wheatley, Dylan Kalinay, Travis Tupper and Chase Wetterling went to the Drake Relays and ran 41.92, breaking the school record of 41.95 set in 1993. Later in the day, at Simpson's own Kip Janvrin Open, the team of Wheatley, Kalinay, Tupper and Davey Jergens won the 4x100-meter relay, finishing in 42.05, a new meet record.

The sprinters continued to shine at Simpson's own Kip Janvrin Open, placing 2-5-8 in the 100.

Wheatley led the charge, taking second in the 100 meters (11.04) and running a season-best 21.83 in the 200 to take third.

Kalinay added a second-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles (14.85), the top collegiate placewinner in the field. He also placed fifth in the 100 meters (11.13).

Nick Yaeger had the top distance performance of the day, taking second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a season-best effort of 9:35.75.

OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES

Jordan Coughenour placed seventh in the 400-meter hurdles (55.18) … Tupper placed eighth in the 100 meters (11.19) … the 4x400-meter relay of Chase Wetterling, Prince Krah, Coughenour and Kirk Wicks placed third (3:21.01).

FRAZIER SETS NEW BEST IN DECATHLON

The 4x100 relay weren't the only standout Storm performers at the Drake Relays. Isaac Fraziercompeted in the decathlon Wednesday and Thursday, scoring career-high 6,143 points to place fourth overall. His point total stands at No. 12 in Division III.

GASTER LEADS WOMEN AT KIP JANVRIN

The Storm women were led by a huge personal-best from Breanna Gaster at their home open Friday.

Just minutes after she was recognized during the senior day ceremonies at Bill Buxton Stadium, Gaster set a nearly 30-second personal-best in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She ran 11:28.30 to place sixth, a big improvement from her previous best of 11:57 set just a few weeks ago. The effort moves into second-place on Simpson's all-time list, behind only Jess Christensen's school record 11:05.15 set in 2010.

Annie Gullickson had Simpson's other top-10 finish, taking 10th in the discus with a toss of 126-feet, 3 inches. In her first year on the track and field team, Gullickson has improved her mark in the discus throw in each of her five competitions.

OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES

Elizabeth Burgus placed 13th in the 400 meters (1:04.65) … Alex Niemier placed 14th in the shot put (36-feet, 2-inches) … Sadie Timms placed 17th in the 5,000 meters (18:34.80).

GALBRAITH COMPETES IN HEPTATHLON AT DRAKE

Galbraith scored 4,231 points in the heptathlon at Drake, just shy of her effort a week prior at the Kansas Relays. She placed 13th in the competition, setting new personal bests in 4 of 7 events.

UP NEXT

Simpson goes to the Loras Twilight in Dubuque on Friday, May 6. Start time is set for 2:30 p.m.