Ellingson, Hammel lead Simpson at UNI Dome Open

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Catie Ellingson set a school record and Sarah Hammel ran a season-best time in the in the 800-meter run to lead the Simpson track and field teams at the UNI Dome Open Friday night.

In the final regular season indoor meet before the Iowa Conference Championships next weekend, Simpson faced Division I opponents from Drake and Northern Iowa. No team scores were kept.

On the women's side, Ellingson won the 800 meters in 2:14.84, a school record and NCAA provisional qualfying mark. She broke her own record set as a freshman in 2008 (2:15.05).

Hammel finished the event in third, turning in a season-best time of 2:16.63.

In the 3,000-meter run, Erin Guzman took fourth (11:50.64), while Lauren Bucklin placed fifth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.16). Alyssa Hedrick also turned in a fifth-place finish in the 400-meter dash (1:02.22).

In the field events, Kinsey Bak took fourth in the long jump (16-10), while Molly Sabers (33-6 1/2) and Kellie Whitney (33-6 1/2) tied for third in the triple jump.

On the men's side, a fourth-place finish from Kyle Yarkosky in the 400-meter dash (51.70) proved the top Simpson track finish of the day. He also placed 10th in the 200-meters (23.05).

Marty Rounds finished fifth in the 60-meter hurdles (8.49) and Ryan Edwardson took 7th in the 3,000 meters (9:35.69).

In the field events, John Wardenburg and Scott Danielson placed fourth and fifth in the shot put, respectively. Wardenburg tossed 48-10 while Danielson's heave went 47-6 1/4.

The Iowa Conference Championships begin Feb. 26 and last through Feb. 27. Storm Lake is the site for the event, hosted by Buena Vista.