Booth, Kallem pace Storm on Friday

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. - Behind a trio of performances from Spencer Moon, Lara Kallem, and Teghan Booth, the Simpson men and women's track and field teams competed in two different meets in two different states on Friday evening.

Moon lowered his own outdoor 5000 meter record by over 10 seconds at the UW-Platteville Invitational, clocking a 14:04.83 to finish in fifth place out of 138 total competitors. Moon's time is the 19th-fastest in Division III history, as he now begins the chase of breaking the 14-minute barrier.

Kallem and Booth also ran the 5000 meters in Platteville, which placed them in the top five in school history. Booth clocked a time of 18:05.90 to place third all-time, while Kallem was right behind in a time of 18:11.78, good for fifth all-time.

The majority of the team visited Pella, Iowa, where it faced off with Central in a dual meet. Bianca Clemons won both the 100 (12.70) and 200 (26.60) meters and also helped the 4x100 relay team take first in a time of 50.61. Kaya Young ran a 5:01.82 in the women's 1500 meters to take second, with the time being the fastest this young season. Aaliyah Johnson set a career-best in the long jump to win the event, clearing the five meter mark for the first time (5.07m). Madison Hays (400 meters) and Audrey Arnold (100 meter hurdles) also won events as individuals, while the Simpson 4x400 relay team also outdueled Central.

The men were led off by Joseph Sams, who ran a 11.07 to claim first in the 100 meters, while teammate Kendrick Achebe was right behind in second with a time of 11.08. In the 800 meters, the Simpson men took the first four places, led by Adam Gruhn taking first in a career-best 2:00.60. James Murray also handedly won the men's 1500 meters by almost five seconds in a time of 4:07.64.

Up Next

Both teams will resume action next Thursday at the Jim Dutcher Memorial Multi in Crete, Neb, before the majority of the team travels to Nebraska Wesleyan on Saturday for a triangular meet.