Storm complete hosting of Kip Janvrin Open with strong showing

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Multiple career-bests and athletes moving up the all-time lists concluded a strong showing for the Simpson College track and field teams at their home meet, the Kip Janvrin Open.

The Storm also honored seven seniors. Carter Berkey, Christian French, and Noah Nelsen were honored on the men's side, while Alexis Crozier, Emily Erhardt, Melissa Sanchez, and manager Kylie Jones were honored for the women.

Spencer Moon was the only Storm runner to compete at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, taking a break from his longer distance events of the 5,000 and 10,000 meters to compete in the 1,500 meters. Moon took fifth overall in a time of 3:48.39, coming within a second of his own school record.

Back at the Kip Janvrin Open, Ean Warrick clocked a 5,000 meter time of 14:56.96, a career-best by 20 seconds, becoming the tenth man to break the 15-minute barrier. Warrick's time is good for ninth all-time in the event.

The 800 meters also saw some extremely fast times for both the men and women. James Murray clocked a blistering 1:55.70 in the event, the fastest time by a Storm runner in the event since Matt Stone in 2012. Cade Mash clocked the third-fastest time since Stone's, with a 1:56.84. Corbin Truitt (1:57.27) and Adam Gruhn (1:57.47) also ran career-bests, giving Simpson four of the five fastest times in the event since 2019. On the women's side, Ava Carder recorded a time of 2:23.39, a career-best by almost four seconds. Carder's time is also the quickest by a Storm woman since Abby Klein in 2019.

Murray and Mash continued their impressive showings in the 1,500 meters. Murray, already third all-time in the event in school history, clocked a season-best 3:57.44 to place tenth of 91 athletes, beating his season-best by ten seconds. Mash was extremely close to the sub-four minute barrier, running a 4:00.26. Mash now moves into 11th all-time in school history. Andrew Klein also set a career-best in the event with a 4:01.62. For the women, Kate Huisinga led the team with a career-best 5:02.04, tying Teghan Booth for the second-fastest time this year.

The 3,000 meter steeplechase saw vast improvements for both teams once again. Erhardt ran a 12:26.92 in the women's race, a career-best by over 20 seconds. Marc Medici ran a 9:49.91 for the men, also a career-best by 50 seconds. Medici's time was the first time a Storm athlete ran sub-10 since Ryan Courtney in last year's American Rivers Conference Championships.

The sprints also achieved success at the event, beginning with the women's 400 meter hurdles. Madison Hays ran a 1:06.10 on Thursday in the event, the fastest time since Katelyn Mangold in 2019. On Friday, Maddax DeVault was right behind in a time of 1:06.49, also besting Mangold's time in 2019. Audrey Arnold clocked a 15.13 in the 100 meter hurdles, placing fifth in a season-best time. Arnold also ran a 1:08.92 for a career-best in the 400 meter hurdles.

Kendrick Achebe ran a 11.21 in the men's 100 meters, winning his section. Dillan Gulley also comfortably passed his career-best in the 400 meters, recording a 51.24 to crack the top 10 overall.

The Storm relay teams also had a good showing, with each squad's 4x100 times turning in nice showings. The women's team composed of Amy Kish, Bianca Clemons, Aryss Forbes, and Anna Parrott clocked a season-best 50.44, while the men's team made up of Achebe, Gulley, Joseph Sams and Shaymus Santiago ran a 43.51, faster than all times the Storm set last season.

In the field events, the Storm were led by Troy Galloway in the men's javelin, winning the event with a career-best toss of 48.52 meters. Blake DePhillips also increased his career-best by over five meters, with a toss of 43.81 meters to take sixth. Sydney McCarron moved into fifth all-time on the hammer throw list, with a toss of 38.70 meters. Ulysses Patterson also cleared the 40 meter mark in the discus, setting a career-best in the discus by two meters with a throw of 40.03 meters. 

Up Next

The Storm resume action at the Dr. Tucker Open next Friday, hosted by Loras. The meet will serve as the final tuneup before the A-R-C Championships.