Johnson, Booth win all-conference honors

DECORAH, Iowa - Battling through rainy weather conditions, the Simpson track and field teams still produced all-conference performers on day two of the American Rivers Conference Championships, highlighted by Spencer Moon winning the 10,000 meters.

Moon was tasked with dueling Wartburg's Jacob Green, with the two having the top two times in the event in conference history. With around 2,000 meters to go, Moon broke away from Green and eventually led by over 15 seconds before coasting to victory in a time of 30:49.91. The win is Moon's fourth career A-R-C title and his 10th career all-conference honor.

Teghan Booth also earned all-conference honors in the women's 10,000 meters. Booth took third in a time of 38:08.45, which is also the third-fastest in school history. Lara Kallem was right behind Booth, finishing less than 10 seconds behind in a time of 38:15.56, good for fourth in school history.

However, the day started with the conclusion of the women's heptathlon, giving the Storm its first all-conference performer. Between Maddie Hays and Aaliyah Johnson, the Storm took two of the three remaining events. Johnson won the javelin throw with a mark of 33.18 meters, before Hays coasted to a victory in the 800 meters in 2:25.65, a new career-best. Johnson was in contention for a spot on the overall podium and ran a career-best time in the 800 meters to claim third place overall and her first all-conference honor. Johnson scored 3,750 points overall and finished right above Hays, who took fourth with 3,632 points after vaulting up the leaderboard with her win in the 800 meters.

The men's decathlon was underway with the 100 meter hurdles and the discus. In the latter event, Ulysses Patterson and Clarke Latcham took second and third with throws of 36.09 and 29.76 meters, respectively. Patterson rebounded with a throw of 44.61 meters to take second in the javelin, before holding off challengers in the 1,500 meters to claim his second career all-conference honor with 6,189 points to take third.

Back on the track, the hurdlers were off to a good start. Max Cleveland coasted into the final of the 110 meter hurdles with the second-fastest time in the prelims. Both Maddax DeVault and Hays advanced to the final of the women's 400 meter hurdles, as did Brendan Godbout in the men's version of the event, winning his heat in a time of 55.23.

Kendrick Achebe ran a sub-11 second time in the men's 100 meter dash with a 10.93, the first Storm runner under the 11 second barrier since Craig Garrison at the 2021 A-R-C Championships. Emily Erhardt ran the fourth-fastest 3,000 meter steeplechase in school history for the Storm women, clocking a time of 11:58.75.

The Storm are back in action tomorrow morning to conclude the three-day event.