Simpson women sending three to national championships

INDIANAPOLIS - The Simpson College women's track and field team saw three athletes be announced as qualifiers to next week's NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The distance duo of Lara Kallem and Teghan Booth will compete in the 10,000 meters, while Maddie Hays earned a spot in the 400 meter hurdles. The women's program is sending the most athletes to a national meet since the 2010 outdoor championships.

"We are thrilled to be represented in a variety of events at this year's national meet," said Storm director of cross country and track and field Heath Moenck. "We are excited and proud to cheer for them over the course of the meet and it is always a great thing to see Simpson represented at the national meet."

Kallem and Booth are the top two all-time in school history in the 10,000 meters, with each earning all-conference honors last week in the event. Kallem is currently ranked 10th in Division III, while Booth checks in at 15th, as both athletes search for their first career All-American honor. Kallem is competing at her third national championship meet, all coming this year, while Booth is getting her first taste of national championship action.

Hays claimed second in the 400 meter hurdles at last week's conference championships, coming just .2 seconds off the current school record. The junior standout is currently ranked 13th in the event going into the meet. Hays will be competing at her first national championship meet, but it is not her first time on the national stage after helping the Storm women's soccer team to the national tournament this past season.

Stay tuned to simpsonathletics.com for all the coverage and when each athlete is competing.