The Illinois College track and field teams achieved a top-five finish and set two school records during the first day of competition at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, on April 24.
These performances are notable as they highlight both team achievements and individual progress within the Illinois College program. The event provided student-athletes with an opportunity to compete against strong opposition while striving for personal and school milestones.
In Friday’s evening session, the men’s 4×200-meter relay team—Kani Carson, Simeon Smith, Adam Hernandez, and Sam Stimler—set a new school record with a time of 1:26.20. This result placed them second in their heat and fifth overall. Earlier in the day, another strong showing came from the men’s 4×100-meter relay squad (Ki’on Carson, Kani Carson, Blake Larson, and Stimler), who finished with a time of 41.84 seconds—the fastest this year in the Midwest Conference—and ranked fifth in their heat and thirteenth overall.
On the women’s side, McKenzie Murray, Haley Garrett, Fynesse Jones, and Deja Anderson competed in the 4×100-meter relay with a time of 48.33 seconds to place fifth in their heat and nineteenth overall. Later that day, Murray joined Jones, Garrett, and Aleese Trimingham to break another school record in the women’s 4×200-meter relay by finishing third in their heat (fourteenth overall) with a time of 1:41.56.
Illinois College Blue Boys Men’s Track and Field supports student-athletes as they balance academics with athletics while fostering teamwork according to information from the official athletics website. The program competes under NCAA Division III guidelines within the Midwest Athletic Conference according to its official site. It also offers opportunities for students to grow both athletically and academically as stated by Illinois College.
The Drake Relays will conclude tomorrow when Melvin Hodge competes in hammer throw while Riley Gardner participates in high jump.
