The Simpson College men’s and women’s track teams came away with a pair of second place finishes last Friday, January 16 at the Wartburg Relays. The men finished second of six, and the women finished second of five teams.

Sophomore Isaac Frazier won the high jump, jumping 6-5 1/2. Mitch Stoltzman also won for the men with a pole vault of 12-7 1/2. Bayley Fleshner won the 60-meter hurdles, and Simpson won the 4×200 and 4×800 relays.

The team also had a handful of second and third place finishes from Bayley Fleshner, Sarah Galbraith, Elisa Wildy, Dylan Kalinay, Josh Diehm and the men’s 4×400 meter relay team.

The track athletes have been preparing for this season for a long time, but only had four days of practice before the meet due to Christmas break. Many of the athlete’s used this break to prepare.

Sophomore pole vaulter Mitch Stoltzman said, “I have been preparing by getting stronger and conditioning. Over the break I lost roughly 12 pounds which is very beneficiary. It was only my second time pole vaulting for the year and coming out with a vault of 12-7 1/2 was very nice to see.”

The team has been working hard at practice and is ready for the season to be in full swing. Practice can be rewarding, but it is not the kind of competitive atmosphere that the athletes get at a meet. As sophomore Nicole Bahl put it, “It was mostly just a meet to get all the nerves out and kick off the whole season!”

The Simpson College men’s and women’s track team is excited for their season to be underway. They are back in action Friday and Saturday Jan. 23 and 24 at the Central Invitational.