Moon’s record-breaking performance paces Storm

INDIANOLA, Iowa - The Simpson College men and women's track and field teams completed another weekend, with Spencer Moon turning in another record-breaking performance, breaking the American Rivers Conference Indoor 5000 meter record.

Moon traveled to Brookings, S.D., to the South Dakota State Indoor Classic, where there was a multitude of Division I runners in the 82-runner field. Moon took second overall in a time of 14:07.35, breaking the aforementioned conference record and lowering his own school record. Moon also went under the previous meet and facility records to complete a successful night. "Spencer was incredible tonight and executed the race plan to perfection," said Storm director of track and field Heath Moenck. "Conference records are a huge accomplishment and I am thrilled for him."

The trio of Lara Kallem, Teghan Booth, and Ashley Rockhold also made the trip to South Dakota to compete in the women's 3000 meters. Kallem clocked a time of 10:29.8 to move into fourth place in school history, while Booth finished right behind at 10:32.6 to take fifth in school history. Ashley Rockhold also went sub-11 minutes, recording a career-best 10:58.1 to move into 10th place all-time.

At the Darren Young Classic at Grinnell, Iowa, the Storm men also had multiple athletes experience success, with the men taking third overall. Carter Berkey won the men's long jump with a jump of 7.00 meters, while teammate Ulysses Patterson finished in second with a career-best 6.80 meters. Berkey then took home the gold in the triple jump as well, setting a new career-best of 13.29 meters. Clarke Latcham also set a new career-best in the pole vault, with a mark of 3.63 meters.

On the track, Shaymus Santiago had his most successful meet in his debut campaign. Santiago ran a career-best 7.40 in the 60 meters, before running the third leg in the 4x200 relay. Santiago then joined teammates Joseph Sams, Dillan Gulley, and Brody Ulch, as the quartet took first place in a season-best 1:36.88. Simpson continued its strong pedigree in the mile, led by Cade Mash, who finished second in a career-best time of 4:24.53. Ean Warrick (4:26.28) and Cole Leggett (4:29.32) also set career-bests with third and fourth-place finishes, respectively. Finally, Andrew Klein took third in the 3000 meters with a blistering, career-best time of 8:45.01. The performance moves Klein into sixth all-time for the event.

For the women, Audrey Arnold was a standout leader once again. Arnold breezed her way through the 60 meter hurdle prelims, before finishing second in the final with a career-best time of 9.26. Arnold's time now gives her the fifth-fastest time in the event in school history. Aaliyah Johnson took second in the long jump with a mark of 4.86 meters, the second-best jump of her career. Aryss Forbes also set a new career-best in her speciality, the 200 meter dash, with a time of 27.64. In the shot put, Sydney McCarron paced the Storm with a season-best and season-leading throw of 10.48 meters, while Alexis Crozier threw a career-best 10.25 meters. Lastly, Elie Tuhn took third in the 3000 meters with a career-best 11:25.77, as the Storm women claimed seventh.

Up Next

Both squads are back in action in Waverly next weekend for the Liz Wuertz Invite on Feb. 18, which is the final meet before the A-R-C Indoor Championships.