Simpson takes third at Dick Young Classic

GRINNELL, Iowa – The Simpson men's track team turned in 11 top-five finishes on its way to a third place finish of 18 teams at Grinnell's Dick Young Classic at Les Duke Track.

Nebraska Wesleyan won the event with 192 points, followed by Iowa Central CC with 79. Simpson scored 75 points, ahead of William Penn in fourth (61) and Colorado College in fifth (60). Three Iowa Conference foes participated in the meet as well, with Cornell placing ninth (42), Central in 11th (21) and Coe tying for 12th (19).

Marty Rounds (Council Bluffs, Iowa/Jefferson) broke the 15-second mark for the first time in the outdoor season, taking second in the 100-meter hurdles. He ran a season-best time of 14.97, less than a tenth of a second shy of reaching an NCAA provisional qualifying standard. Rounds added a seventh-place effort in the 400 hurdles (57.86).

After missing the indoor season due to injury, middle-distance runner Eric Patten (Webb, Iowa/Sioux Central) is catching stride again in the 800 meters. Patten ran his best time of the outdoor season Saturday, placing 2nd in 1:55.90. He shaved nearly two seconds off his previous best time this season.

Jacob Christy (Vinton, Iowa/Vinton-Shellsburg) added Simpson's third second-place finish in a running event, crossing the finish line in the 100 meters in 11.50.

Matt Stone (Boone, Iowa/Boone) added another season-best effort for the Storm, running a 4:07.39 to place seventh in the 1500 meters.

In the field events, Jake Darrington (Louisburg, Kan./Louisburg) turned in his best performance of the season in the javelin throw, taking second with a toss of 181-4. Scott Danielson took third in the shot put, also turning in a season-best effort of 49-11 ¼.

John Cord (Atlantic, Iowa/Atlantic) placed fourth in the long jump (22-6 ½), followed by Jarrod Schott (22-1 ½). Schott (Pocahontas, Iowa/Pocahontas) also took seventh in the triple jump (40-11 ½).

In the multi events, Kyle Yarkosky (Albia, Iowa/Albia) earned a second-place finish with 5,529 points.

Simpson is scheduled to take part in two meets this weekend, beginning with Simpson's own Kip Janvrin Open April 22-23. The meet begins with the women's hammer and men's discus at 2 p.m. on Thursday, with the remainder of the meet beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday.

In addition, Simpson will send four relays to Des Moines to participate in the Drake Relays. Simpson's 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams will go to Drake, which takes place April 22-24.