Despite the weather conditions, Simpson had many runners finish in the top six of several events Saturday at the William Jewell Invitational.

On a very windy day, the men had a total of 17 runners finish in the top six in 13 different events. The women had 16 runners finish in the top six of 12 different events.

“They went out there and gave it 100 percent and that is all that I can ask for,” said Head Men’s and Women’s Coach Tim Byers.

The entire spotlight didn’t shine on just the individual runners though. The relay teams finished high also. The men’s 4x400m relay team consisting of seniors Jeremy Mohwinkle and Josh Russell and juniors Greg Murphy and Jeremy Keehn finished first. The women’s 4x400m relay team of junior Tracie Whitney and freshmen Jessica Carper, Amy Moylan and Ashley Friday placed second.

There were no team scores kept at the meet. This was just a chance for everybody to keep themselves in shape and get the ailing better.

“As a team, we are a little beat up right now,” Byers said. “We are a small squad and time has taken a toll on us.”

Some of the athletes that placed high were senior Andrew Hoopes (first in the pole vault), Mohwinkle (second in the 200 and third in the 400), Keehn (second in the 400 hurdles with a season best time of :56.65) and freshman Ross Parker (first in the shot put and third in the discus).

“Everyone performed real well and we had a good meet,” Parker said.

On the women’s side, Friday won the 1500 and took third in front of Carper in the 800, senior Becky Jolly finished second in both the 100 hurdles and the 400 hurdles and Moylan tied her season best in the high jump (5-0) while placing third.

The next meet that the Storm will be participating in will be one that they host. The Simpson Open will be this Saturday at Bill Buxton Stadium beginning at 10 a.m.

“This is one of only two meets that we have at home all year and we run in about 18 meets all year,” Byers said. “It would be nice to see some people come out in red and gold to support the team.”