Storm cross country teams begin 2020 campaign on Saturday

INDIANOLA, Iowa -- The Simpson men's and women's cross country teams will finally be able to showcase their depth this season as the 2020 campaign begins on Saturday with a dual meet at Nebraska Wesleyan.

"I am ecstatic to have the opportunity for our student-athletes to have a chance to compete," said head coach Heath Moenck. "I am excited to watch how improved our returners are and how our newcomers compete for the first time. While it's only the first meet of the season, it's important we get off to a quality start."

Each roster brings back six of their top seven runners from last year's regional teams. The Storm men tallied a 10th-place finish at regionals to tie their best result at a regional meet since 1996.

"Both squads are greatly improved from last year," Moenck said. "Having a veteran lineup return, while adding talented newcomers to our roster is a great luxury. It's our best combined recruiting class (men and women) that we've had in my 10 seasons here. Our veterans will do a great job of leading and our freshman will be up for the challenge of being difference makers in their first season with us."

Sophomore Spencer Moon is coming off an impressive rookie season as he was the first Simpson freshman to garner all-region honors since 1995. At the Storm's intrasquad meet on Friday, Sept. 4, Moon ran an 18:25.4 to shatter the previous Bill Buxton Course record of 19:15.9.

Along with Moon, seniors Shane Breheny, Ryan Courtney and Seth Nostrala, and sophomores Eric Baldus and Noah Nelsen will lead a pack of runners that look to propel Simpson further into the regional rankings after the team placed as high as No. 8 in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Central Region poll in 2019.

After earning most valuable performer honors last year for the women's team, junior Cat Lucht will look to build off of her success. Lucht also led the Storm at last week's practice meet, while fellow classmate Sophie Hall joined her in the top three.

In their first experience as collegiate runners, freshmen Lara Kallem, Macie Bopp, Ashley Rockhold and Kaya Young finished in the top six, with Kallem clinching runner-up honors last Friday.

In addition to Lucht and Hall, senior Emily Buchheit and juniors Mackenzie Laughlin, Katie Murano and Kyli Orr return after pacing Simpson at regionals a year ago.

Competition resumes on Sept. 26 at the Loras Triangular for the Storm before heading to Waverly, Iowa for the Wartburg Triangular on Oct. 10. The Coe Triangular on Oct. 24 finishes off the month as the American Rivers Conference Championships awaits Simpson on Nov. 7 in Pella, Iowa to cap off the season.