Kallem, Hays take home all-region honors

NEW ORLEANS - Lara Kallem and Maddie Hays of the Simpson College women's track and field team took home USTFCCCA All-Region honors.

Top-5 individuals in each event from each region earned all-region honors, in addition to each of the members of a top-3 ranked relay team.

Kallem (10,000 meters) and Hays (400 meter hurdles) are both earning their first all-region accolades after clinching berths to this week's NCAA Championships. Kallem and Hays also took home all-conference awards in their respective events at the conference championships just under two weeks ago.

Hays is ranked third in the midwest region in the 400 meter hurdles, after a time of 1:02.11 that earned her the silver medal at the conference championships in the event. Hays is just 0.2 seconds off the school record and is also ranked 13th in the country heading into the national meet.

Kallem is fourth in the region with a time of 35:10.24 in the 10,000 meters. The time smashed the previous school record by over two minutes that had stood since 2006. Kallem also placed second in the event at the conference championships and comes in ranked 10th in the country.

Kallem is scheduled to race on Thursday evening at the NCAA Championships, while Hays will compete in the 400 meter hurdle prelims Friday afternoon.