Storm move up one spot in national rankings

NEW ORLEANS - The Simpson College men's track and field team moved up one spot to No. 23 in this week's edition of the USTFCCCA National Track and Field Rating Index.

In addition to the Storm's second consecutive appearance in the top 25 of the national rankings, the team stayed put at No. 10 in the midwest regional rankings. The Storm earned 38.47 total points in the national poll.

The Storm's rise was largely aided by the performance of Carter Berkey this past Saturday. Berkey broke the indoor school long jump record that had stood since 1986 with a mark of 7.22 meters. At the time of release, this puts Berkey in sixth position among all NCAA Division III athletes. Berkey, who won the American Rivers Conference Indoor Field Performer of the Week on Monday, earned 11.38 points for the Storm.

Spencer Moon still ranks in the top 10 nationally in the mile (sixth) and the 5000 meters (eighth). Moon's best times are both current school records, as he contributed a total of 20.11 points to the Storm's point total.

Max Cleveland remains 10th in the nation in the 60 meter hurdles after running the fourth-best time in school history in December, contributing 6.96 points for the Storm. Cleveland received the A-R-C Indoor Track Performer of the Week after winning the 60 meter hurdles at the Grinnell Invite. Clarke Latcham ranks 33rd in the nation in the heptathlon after a career-best total of 4,305 points at the Dutch Winter Multi last week, adding 0.02 points to complete the Storm's total.

The Storm resume competition on Friday with distance runners heading to the Bearcat Invite in Maryville, Mo., before a fuller roster travels to Waverly, Iowa for the Wartburg Indoor Select on Saturday.