Grinnell men claim first MWC indoor track and field title since 1994

Results

GRINNELL, Iowa - Grinnell College's men's track and field team stepped up to the occasion at the Midwest Conference Indoor Championships Saturday, racing to the program's first league title since 1994.

Grinnell piled up 130 points at the Bear Center Field House, beating runner-up and defending champ Cornell College by five points.

Additionally, Grinnell's staff led by head coach Jeff Pedersen was named MWC Coaching Staff of the Year.

Sparking the Pioneers' title was super sprinter Lucas Fadden '26, who claimed two event titles on the final day of competition. He broke the meet record while winning the 60-meter dash in 6.75 seconds. The previous mark, established in 2023, was 6.80.

Fadden also won the 200 in 21.84. Jesse Miller '28 ran 22.72 in the finals, which ranks third all-time, and George Stenberg '29 ran 22.76, which is fourth. In the 60, Stenberg took seventh in 7.04.

Linus O'Brien '28, Andy Chestovich '26, Stenberg and Caden Pfister '27 set a school record in the 4x400 relay by running 3:24.13. The previous mark, established in 1964, was 3:24.39. They were third in the event.

Grinnell was third in the other relay Saturday as James Snyder '26, Cameron Welch-Groves '26, Gabe Shiloh '29 and Connor Heagy '26 ran 10:50.07.

Also placing third were O'Brien in the 400 (50.50, second all-time at GC), Jack Novelle '26 in the high jump (1.90 meters), Jess Christensen '29 in the triple jump (13.39 meters, third all-time) and Ian Clawson '26 in the weight throw (17.36 meters).

Chestovich and Spencer Lyau '29 were fourth and fifth in the 800 in 1:58.14 and 1:58.31, respectively. Ilem Leisher '27 took fourth in the 60 hurdles in 8.65, which ranks second in GC history. Murphy Dykstra '27 was fifth in the triple jump with a leap of 12.80 meters, while Ben Abelow '28 and Luke Robinson '26 placed fifth and sixth in the 3000 in 8:37.19 and 8:38.28. Abelow's time ranks fifth in GC history.

Pfister was sixth in the 400 in 50.81 and Quentin Kelley '29 placed eighth in 53.31.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Ben Abelow: Sophomore

Andy Chestovich: Senior

Ian Clawson: Senior

Murphy Dykstra: Junior

Lucas Fadden: Senior

Connor Heagy: Senior

Ilem Leisher: Junior

Jesse Miller: Sophomore

Jack Novelle: Senior

Linus O'Brien: Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Ben Abelow
: Sophomore

Andy Chestovich
: Senior

Ian Clawson
: Senior

Murphy Dykstra
: Junior

Lucas Fadden
: Senior

Connor Heagy
: Senior

Ilem Leisher
: Junior

Jesse Miller
: Sophomore

Jack Novelle
: Senior

Linus O'Brien
: Sophomore