Men’s track and field lands top 10 spot in regional rankings
NEW ORLEANS - The Simpson College men's track and field team entered the first edition of the USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Rankings in tenth position, as announced, Monday.
The Storm collected 78.91 total points, which are awarded based on how high each athlete has ranked in each event's regional ranking. It is the first appearance in the top 10 of a regional ranking since the Storm were ranked eighth on Feb. 25, 2020, when the squad belonged to the central region.
Spencer Moon accounted for over half of the Storm's points. Fresh off breaking the indoor mile school record at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational this past weekend, Moon earned 23.60 points after his time of 4:08.77 ranked him first in the midwest region. Moon also ranks second in the region in the 5000 meters, earning the Storm an additional 20.69 points after lowering his school record at the GVSU Holiday Open in December.
Other large contributors included hurdler Max Cleveland and Carter Berkey. Cleveland ranks third in the 60 meter hurdles, adding 18.63 points after running a career-best 8.18 in December, the fourth-fastest time in school history. Cleveland also added 1.79 points in the 400 meter dash by running a 50.84 at the Prairie Wolf Invitational.
Berkey has recorded a mark of 6.84 meters in the indoor long jump in back-to-back meets, ranking seventh in the region, earning 10.27 points. Out of three long jump competitions, Berkey has won two and grabbed second-place in the others.
The top 10 in the rankings were dominated by the American Rivers Conference. Loras narrowly led the poll with 413.09 points over Wartburg, who gathered 411.25 points. Washington (Mo.) was third, but far behind the top two with a point total of 266.61. Nebraska Wesleyan (189.30 points), Chicago (144.89 points), and Central (141.15 points) represented the fourth through sixth positions, while Greenville (139.18 points) and North Central (123.49) took seventh and eighth, respectively. Rounding out the poll were Dubuque, who collected 99.02 points, and the Storm, amassing 78.91 points.
USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Rankings
1. Loras - 413.09
2. Wartburg - 411.25
3. Washington (Mo.) - 266.61
4. Nebraska Wesleyan - 189.30
5. Chicago - 144.89
6. Central - 141.15
7. Greenville - 139.18
8. North Central - 123.49
9. Dubuque - 99.02
10. Simpson - 78.91
