Storm men claim two top honors at Spartan Invite

DUBUQUE, Iowa -- In the final outing before the American Rivers Conference Championships, the Simpson track and field squads competed in the Spartan Invitational on Friday, hosted by Dubuque.

Out of the seven teams in the field, the Storm men ended fifth and the women tallied seventh. There were three other A-R-C schools among the competition in Dubuque, Iowa, serving as a small precursor to next week's events.

Craig Garrison and Spencer Moon claimed the lone first-place finishes for Simpson. Garrison ran the 400 meters in 50.55 for a new personal best and Moon followed suit with a new PR in the mile, this time in 4:21.18. Moon just clipped his previous best of 4:21.28, which stood from the Wartburg Select on Feb. 1.

Elliott Meyer hurdled his way to third place in the 55-meter hurdles with a result of 7.93 for a personal best. Carter Fricke, Garrison and Carter Berkey wrapped up the 55-meter sprint by holding down the fifth through seventh spots. Fricke grabbed ninth in the 200 meters to close out the top-10 marks on the track for the Storm.

Caleb Striegel had a toss of 15.04 meters in shot put for third place after earning a season long. Mason Spree ended ninth in the weight throw and Berkey leaped 6.46 meters for fifth in long jump.

For the women, Jamie Glanz floated to fifth place in the high jump for Simpson's only top-five showing. Glanz remained busy for the Storm by competing in four total events and scored the team's four points.

Abby Loecke (800) and Mackenzie Laughlin (mile) hauled in Simpson's two other top-10 placings. The sophomores both finished ninth. Sarah Nolting sprinted to a career best in the 55 meters and twin sisters Meagan and Mackenzie Blomgren finished 13th and 15th, respectively, in the event alongside Nolting.

Up Next
The A-R-C Championships begin on Friday, Feb. 28 and conclude on Saturday as Luther hosts the event.

Men's Meet Results
55 — 5. Carter Fricke, 6.60 | 6. Craig Garrison, 6.64 (6:57, prelims) | 7. Carter Berkey, 6.71
200 — 9. Carter Fricke, 23.20 | 28. Dylan Smith, 28.82
400 — 1. Craig Garrison, 50.55 | 13. Dylan Smith, 1:06.12
800 — 11. Josh Paulson, 2:00.29 | 12. Quentin Linnan, 2:00.32 | 16. Clay Billheimer, 2:01.70
Mile — 1. Spencer Moon, 4:21.18 | 16. Seth Nostrala, 4:34.86 | 18. Ryan Courtney, 4:35.19
55 hurdles — 3. Elliott Meyer, 7.93 | 16. Cameron Sand, 9.96
High jump — 14. Cameron Sand, 1.56m
Pole vault — 12. Cameron Sand, 3.28m | 13. Austin Greenwalt, 3.08m
Long jump — 5. Carter Berkey, 6.46m | 13. Austin Greenwalt, 6.03m
Shot put — 3. Caleb Striegel, 15.04m | 11. Mason Spree, 13.34m | 15. Connor Warrick, 12.26m
Weight throw — 9. Mason Spree, 15.38m | 14. Caleb Striegel, 14.39m | 19. Mac Roush, 11.93m

Women's Meet Results
55 — 12. Sarah Nolting, 7.78 | 13. Meagan Blomgren, 7.82 | 15. Mackenzie Blomgren, 7.87
200 — 19. Meagan Blomgren, 28.74 | 22. Sarah Nolting, 29.37 | 26. Corinne Thomas, 30.22
800 — 9. Abby Loecke, 2:28.61 | 15. Jamie Glanz, 2:35.06 | 16. Sophie Hall, 2:35.26
Mile — 9. Mackenzie Laughlin, 5:27.34 | 14. Cat Lucht, 5:38.75 | 21. Kyli Orr, 5:47.48
55 hurdles — 15. Jamie Glanz, 10.57
High jump — 5. Jamie Glanz, 1.52m
Long jump — 13. Mackenzie Blomgren, 3.32m
Shot put — 20. Alexis Crozier, 7.77m
Weight throw — 22. Alexis Crozier, 10.22m