Storm women record highest indoor conference team finish since 2014

STORM LAKE, Iowa - Spencer Moon became the third conference indoor track MVP for the Simpson men's track and field program, as both squads finished up competition at the American Rivers Conference Indoor Championships on Saturday.

After winning the 5000 meters yesterday and the 3000 meters today, Moon joins Dylan Kalinay (2018) and Joe Farrand (2013) as the other two Storm athletes to win the indoor track MVP. The Storm also saw Isaac Frazier win the conference indoor field MVP in 2016. "Spencer has been terrific all season and this weekend was no different," said Storm director of track and field Heath Moenck. "To win a conference MVP in one of the deepest and toughest track conferences in the country is a true honor."

As for the 3000 meter race itself, it was widely billed as a battle between Moon and Wartburg's Christopher Collet. The duo faced off in Waverly on Feb. 4, where Moon broke away from Collet and set a new facility record in the process. Collet then broke that facility record a couple weeks later, but not against Moon. Another added element was that while Moon had run the 5000 meters, his race was yesterday, while Collet ran and won the mile earlier on the day. As he did in the first meeting, Moon broke away from Collet just after the first mile. Moon continued to stretch his lead out each lap, leading by over 10 seconds in the final 400 meters, crossing the finish line in a time of 8:19.11, breaking the prior facility record. Moon's win gave him his second career indoor conference title after the 5000 meter win yesterday.

Elsewhere, there was a trio of Storm athletes that earned all-conference honors. Max Cleveland narrowly broke his career-best in the 60 meter hurdles, clocking a time of 8.17 to earn third place. Cleveland's time currently ranks 14th across all Division III athletes. It is Cleveland's second overall all-conference honor after being a member of the distance medley relay team last year that placed third.

In the men's heptathlon, Ulysses Patterson and Clarke Latcham came into the final three events with a chance to land on the podium as well. Both athletes set their career-bests in the two running events, the 60 meter hurdles and the 1000 meter run. Central's Reid Pakkebier had led the overall competition most of the time, but fell off after the pole vault, when Wartburg's Dalton Closson passed both Pakkebier and Patterson, but with Latcham also still lurking. In the final event, the 1000 meter run, Latcham edged out Closson, but Closson's time was good enough to narrowly hold off Patterson. However, Latcham's performance led him to pass Pakkebier for third overall, giving the Storm two athletes on the podium. Both Patterson (4,704 points) and Latcham (4,667 points) set career-bests in the event, with the scores ranking in the top 20 nationally.

Both teams finished sixth overall in the team standings, but the women's finish was the team's highest since 2014. The Storm were led on day two by a familiar face in Teghan Booth. Less than 24 hours after her first all-conference honor as a member of the distance medley, she clocked a time of 10:27.70 in the 3000 meters, moving her into fourth all-time in school history. Sydney McCarron turned in a career-best in the shot put as well, recording a toss of 13.20 meters. Aryss Forbes, Ava Carder, and Maddie Hays were joined by Maddax DeVault, fresh off her women's basketball campaign, in the 4x400 relay, where the team recorded the sixth-fastest time in school history in 4:05.38.

Up Next

A few Storm runners will have a chance to compete at the Wartburg Qualfiier next weekend to try and hit marks to qualify for nationals. For most, however, they will resume on April 1 for the first outdoor meet of the season.