Storm crown three at Central Invitational

PELLA - The Simpson track and field teams crowned three first-place performers at the Central Invitational on Thursday.

On the women's side, Kinsey Bak (Hinton, Iowa) won the high jump by clearing 5-5. The effort is her second-best of the spring. She cleared 5-5 3/4 at the Cornell Invitational on April 9, currently the No. 8 height in the nation.

Chelsey Degen (Algona, Iowa) gave the women's team its second gold medal, taking first in the discus throw with a toss of 135-6. Her toss of 150-9 at the Cornell Invitational ranks second in the nation.

Simpson also got a pair of third-place finishes from April Sigmund (Jewell, Iowa) and Lauren Anderson (Oakland, Iowa). Sigmund ran a 61.76 in the 400 and Anderson crossed the finish line in 15.77 in the 100-meter hurdles.

For the men's team, Matt Stone turned in his best effort of the season in the 800, winning the event in 1:57.14. That time was less than one second shy of his personal best of 1:56.74 set in 2010.

Ted Heying (Sumner, Iowa) tied a personal best time in the 400-meter hurdles, running a 59.66 to place second. John Cord (Atlantic, Iowa) turned in his best efforts of the spring in the javelin throw and the triple jump, placing second in the javelin (164-7) and third in the triple jump (43-4 1/4).

Brad Vogel (Donnellson, Iowa) added a sixth-place finish in the 100-meter dash, running an 11.25.

The track and field teams will participate in two events next weekend, beginning with Simpson's own Kip Janvrin Open on April 28-29. Athletes will also participate in the Drake Relays, which are held April 29-30.