Storm men appear in first national poll

NEW ORLEANS - Fresh off its top 10 appearance in the regional rankings, Simpson men's track and field team came in at No. 24 in the first version of the USTFCCCA National Track and Field Rating Index.

It is the Storm's first appearance in the top 25 of a national poll since the preseason poll in the 2018 season. Much like the regional rankings, teams are ranked by collective points, which are based on how high athletes are ranked nationally in a respective event.

The Storm collected 38.52 total points, led by Spencer Moon and Max Cleveland. Moon ranks third in the country in the 5000 meters after lowering his own school record to 14:17.51 at the GVSU Holiday Open in December, earning 18.01 points. Moon also gained 13.48 points by being ranked fifth nationally in the mile after running a school record 4:08.77 this past weekend at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational, placing fourth overall in a field full of Division I runners.

Cleveland ranks 10th nationally in the 60 meter hurdles, running a career-best 8.18 at the Dutch Holiday Preview in December. Cleveland's mark, the fourth-fastest in school history, gained an additional 7.03 points for the Storm.

There were four other American Rivers Conference teams in the top 25, giving the conference five in total, the most of any conference in the country. Loras finished second in the poll with 127.51 points, while Wartburg (83.66 points) and Nebraska Wesleyan (71.88 points) were sixth and seventh, respectively, The other A-R-C member was Central, checking in at 18th with 46.87 points.

A few Storm athletes will compete in the Dutch Multi-Event in Pella on Thursday and Friday, before a full roster heads to the Grinnell Invitational on Saturday.