Storm track and field teams name award winners
INDIANOLA, Iowa -- The Simpson track and field teams announced their award winners for the 2019-20 indoor season on what was supposed to be the start of the 15th-annual Kip Janvrin Open on Thursday.
After winning the heptathlon at the American Rivers Conference Indoor Championships, senior Sam Adeniyi was named the men's most valuable performer in the field events. On the track, sophomore Craig Garrison and freshman Spencer Moon are selected as co-most valuable performers after the duo excelled for Simpson.
Moon is now the program record holder in the 3,000 meters (8:34.45) after clipping a 32-year-old record and came one place short of earning all-conference distinction in the mile. Garrison had three top-five finishes at the conference championships, including a fourth-place result in the 55-meter dash to just miss stepping onto the podium.
On the women's side, junior Jamie Glanz was tabbed as the team's most valuable performer after competing in several events for the Storm all year. Glanz was just shy of earning all-leage honors with fifth-place nods in the pentathlon and high jump. Glanz scored 6.5 of the team's 10.5 points at the championships in those two events combined.
Sam Adeniyi | Men's Field MVP
• Senior from Roseville, Minnesota
• Won the indoor conference title in the heptathlon with a point total of 4,667 for his second all-conference honor in the event
• Named U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Central Region in the heptathlon for his effort as the league championships
• First indoor champion in the heptathlon since 2016 for the Storm and first indoor champion in any event since 2018
• Currently second in program history in the heptathlon
• Set a personal best in the 600 meters (1:31.20) at the Prairie Wolf Indoor Invitational on Jan. 24, 2020
Comments from head coach Dave Cleveland
"Sam was a joy to coach because he was a fierce competitor, mentally tough and was a team leader, both by example in his work ethic and also by his genuineness as a person. To me, that is what it's all about! Sam is the epitome of what we as coaches look for in a student-athlete as he was involved in athletics, clubs, an admissions ambassador and other academic groups. Sam will be missed, but he is destined to do great things!"
Craig Garrison | Men's Track Co-MVP
• Sophomore from Des Moines, Iowa
• Finished in the top-five in three events at the A-R-C Indoor Championships
• Ended fourth in the 55-meter dash (6.58) and took home two fifth-place showings in the 200 (22.54) and 400 (50.53)
• Named the Darren Young Invitational Most Valuable Performer after winning the 60 and 200-meter races
• Set personal bests in the 60, 200 and 400 races this season
• Currently third in program history with a mark of 22.42 in the 200 meters that was set at the Wartburg Qualifier on March 7, 2020
Comments from head coach Dave Cleveland
"Craig had a breakout sophomore campaign during the indoor season by setting lifetime bests in the 60, 200 and 400-meter races. Craig is counted on to lead our sprint group and is a valuable member of our relay teams. Craig is another person who will not be outworked and lays it on the line in every workout, whether on the track or in the weight room. I'm excited to see Craig's development throughout his career as his best races are ahead of him."
Spencer Moon | Men's Track Co-MVP
• Freshman from Lake City, Iowa
• Broke a 32-year-old school record in the 3,000-meter event with a time of 8:34.45, to clip the previous mark of 8:38.98
• Missed out on two all-conference honors with fourth-place results at the championships
• Ended fourth in the mile at the league championships with the fifth-best time in school history of 4:19.55
• Helped the 4x800-meter relay tally fourth by serving as the anchor
Comments from head coach Dave Cleveland
"Coach Heath Moenck did a fantastic job of managing Spencer's freshman season by making sure he could build off an impressive cross country season and record one of the best freshman indoor distance campaigns in Simpson history. What impressed me the most about Spencer was that he was very consistent and never had a bad race, that's unusual as a freshman at our level. To break a very long standing 3,000-meter record and put himself in three top-five lists is outstanding. We are excited to see what his running future holds."
Jamie Glanz | Women's Track & Field MVP
• Junior from Manchester, Iowa
• Finished fifth at the A-R-C Indoor Championships in the pentathlon with 2,792 points and in the high jump
• Scored 6.5 of the team's 10.5 points at the league championships
• Ended her first season as a pentathlete for the Storm
Comments from head coach Dave Cleveland
"Jamie had a fantastic year. It was exciting to see Jamie learn and excel in so many new events while competing in the indoor pentathlon. Jamie was successful due to her attitude of never being satisfied and always wanting to be better. Jamie has really become a 'student of the sport' and that will serve her well as she strives to get on the podium in the high jump, pentathlon and heptathlon as a senior. I am thrilled to see the 'spark' in Jamie and where that will take her next year."
