Grinnell men sprint to record time in 4x200 relay while taking team lead at MWC Championships

Results

GRINNELL, Iowa - Grinnell College's men's track and field team finished the opening day of the 2026 Midwest Conference Indoor Championships on an incredible note Friday night.

The Pioneer foursome of George Stenberg '29, Lucas Fadden '26, Linus O'Brien '28 and Jesse Miller '28 won the 4x200-meter relay in a facility, meet and school record time of 1 minute, 28.47 seconds at the Bear Center Field House.

Their efforts helped Grinnell take the team lead with 43 points, four in front of runner-up Illinois College.

The previous facility record was 1:28.98 by Monmouth College in 2011, the old MWC Championships mark was 1:28.67 by Illinois College in 2025 and the previous school record was 1:29.80 set earlier this season.

Grinnell was more than impressive in the 5000, with four runners in the top eight. Ben Abelow '28 was third in 15:14.94, Jack Lakin '29 placed fifth in 15:35.08, Sam Beck '27 took seventh in 15:38.81 and Leif Dahl '29 was eighth in 15:40.33.

In the mile, Luke Robinson '26 was fourth in 4:21.21, Spencer Lyau '29 took sixth in 4:26.54 and Andy Chestovich '26 was seventh in 4:26.91.

The sprint medley quartet of Eli Grzelewski '29, O'Brien, Caden Pfister '27 and Gabe Shiloh '29 was fourth in 3:34.92, the third-best time in GC history. Miller was sixth in the long jump with a leap of 6.48 meters and Jess Christensen '29 placed seventh at 6.47.

In the 60 prelims, Fadden qualified second and set a meet record of 6.78. Stenberg also made the finals, posting the seventh-best time of 7.03. Ilem Leisher '27 qualified eighth for the 60 hurdle finals with a time of 8.89.

The meet continues Saturday.

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Players Mentioned

Ben Abelow: Sophomore

Sam Beck: Junior

Andy Chestovich: Senior

Lucas Fadden: Senior

Ilem Leisher: Junior

Jesse Miller: Sophomore

Linus O'Brien: Sophomore

Caden Pfister: Junior

Luke Robinson: Senior

Jess Christensen: First-Year

Players Mentioned

Ben Abelow
: Sophomore

Sam Beck
: Junior

Andy Chestovich
: Senior

Lucas Fadden
: Senior

Ilem Leisher
: Junior

Jesse Miller
: Sophomore

Linus O'Brien
: Sophomore

Caden Pfister
: Junior

Luke Robinson
: Senior

Jess Christensen
: First-Year