Mile posts: Items on Biya Simbassa, Cailie Logue Hughes, Kassie Parker, Courtney Sporrer, Riley Witt, Gabby Cortez

There is no doubt Abbabiya Simbassa likes the sound of this: American record holder.

Simbassa went to Tokyo for the Tokyo: Speed: Race event on Saturday, May 3 in Japan’s capital to show off ASICS’ new METASPEED Series shoe. The night of racing that included 5-kilometer and 10K races ended with 10 national records broken.

Simbassa, a former Sioux City North and Iowa Central Community College product who went on to run for Oklahoma University, broke the American men’s 10K record that had stood for 40 years. The Asics athlete based in Flagstaff, Ariz., ran 27 minutes, 32 seconds to finish fifth overall. He took down Mark Nenow’s 27:48 effort at the Continental Homes 10K in Phoenix on March 2, 1995.

“So honored to race in Japan and set a new American record!” Simbassa wrote on Instagram. “Grateful beyond words!”

Simbassa also owns the fourth-best marathon time in U.S. history and was the 2023 Quad-City Times Bix 7 champion. He awaits ratification to make the record official. The winner was Jemal Mekonen of Ethiopia in 27:10.

From the roads to the track and a victory by 13-time Big 12 Conference champion Cailie Logue Hughes at the inaugural Save the 10000 race at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif., on May 3. The former Iowa State runner, now with Minnesota Distance Elite, rallied late in the 25-lap race to win in 32:21.54. Logue Hughes topped Katie Izzo by 9.21 seconds in the event hosted by U.S. distance running legends Kara Goucher and Des Linden. Hughes’ teammate, former Cyclone Dana Feyen, ended up eighth in 33:52.64.

MDE also had a runner from Iowa in the men’s 10,000. Former Sioux City North star Merga Gemeda clocked a 29:35.75 to pick up fourth place. The winner, Cael Grotenhuis, ran 28:24.36.

Seven-time Loras College NCAA champion Kassie Parker came to Spokane, Wash., on May 4 to try to extend her lead in the Professional Road Running Organization standings. Unfortunately, the former Clayton Ridge (Guttenberg) prep lost the points lead to second-place Adane Anmaw Mengesha on the way to an eighth-place finish in the 49th Bloomsday 12K. Parker covered the 7.46-mile course in 40:50 to pick up $3,400. The winner, Kenya’s Veronica Loleo, ran 38:02.

Sticking to the roads and the USATF 5K Championships hosted by Indianapolis on May 2. Former Iowa State runner Silas Winders, now with the Fitness Sports Distance Project, came in 14th in 14:03.37. Crown Running’s Mason Tope, who ran for Davenport Central and Loras, took 22nd in 14:38.28. Silas’ older brother, Titus Winders, was next to finish in 14:42.93. Winders runs for the MDE team. The winner was Olin Hacker in 13:31.93.

In the companion IU Health 500 Festival Mini Marathon 5K, Crown Running’s Jessica Hruska, 45, was the second-fastest woman and 20th overall. The former Wartburg College and Dubuque Hempstead athlete ran 19:19.

Moving to colleges, where Morningside College junior Courtney Sporrer became a two-time Great Plains Athletic Conference champion in Hastings, Neb. The Logan-Magnolia product started by winning the 3,000 steeplechase on May 3 in 11:08.99, which gained her the NAIA ‘B’ standard for nationals. Sporrer won by more than 12 seconds.

Sporrer also claimed victory later in the 5,000 in 18:36.19. Sporrer topped Dordt sophomore Isabella Webb by 8.15 seconds. Webb ran for Waukee High. Taking fourth place was Dordt sophomore and former Unity Christian (Orange City) runner Courtney Joiner in 19:03.11.

Sporrer also ran anchor on a Mustangs 4×800 relay that picked up second place. That unit that included former Lawton-Bronson prep Jolee Mesz and former Sioux City North athlete Nicole Zuehl ran a 9:26.22 time that achieves the ‘B’ standard for NAIA nationals. St. Mary (Neb.) was the winner in 9:17.17.

Joiner was coming off a victory in the 10,000 the previous day. Joiner ran 39:26.78 to edge teammate Hannah Thong by .89 of a second. Morningside junior London Rogge, who ran for Cherokee Washington, was third in 41:23.93.

Moving to the NCAA Division II realm and last weekend’s MIAA championships hosted by Emporia State in Kansas. Northwest Missouri State junior Riley Witt picked up two all-conference finishes with a runner-up effort in the 800 and a fourth place in the 1,500. The former St. Ansgar prep ran 1:52.19 in the 800 final to trail only Pittsburg State’s Jordan Kilonzo, who ran 1:51.78. Witt had run the second-best time, 1:52.23 in the prelims. Witt also competed in a strong field in the 1,500, gaining the Division II standard for nationals after crossing in 3:47.20. Dylan Sprecker of Pittsburg State was the winner in 3:42.51.

Former Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson prep Wimachmorr Gilo of Missouri Western also was a two-time all-conference runner. The Missouri Western senior grabbed fourth in the 5,000 in 14:30.75. The winner, Northwest Missouri’s Grant Bradley, ran 14:21.22. Gilo added a fifth-place effort in the 3,000 steeplechase. Gilo ran 9:14.19 in a race won by Bradley in 8:55.92.

Northwest Missouri’s Mayson Hartley also gained two all-conference finishes. The Clarinda product ran the 3,000 steeplechase in 11:16.05 to nab sixth place. The winner ran 10:37.80. Hartley also took eighth in the 1,500 in 4:34.40, in an event won by Pittsburg State’s Kate Strader in 4:22.43.

Former Waukee High runner Abby Kinney picked up eighth in the 10,000. The Missouri Western junior ran 37:35.86 in a race won by Pittsburg’s Paige Mullen in 34:27.54. Kinney also was 20th in the 5,000.

Wisconsin-La Crosse senior Adam Loenser added another all-conference honor to his resume at the NCAA Division III WIAC Outdoor championships in Oshkosh, Wis. The Clear Lake product finished the 3,000 steeplechase in 8:51.51 for third place. Whitewater’s Christian Patzka was the champion in 8:48.35. The Eagles won their 32nd WIAC title in 33 years after scoring 252.5 points and winning by nearly 100 points.

Moving to the Division I competitors and the Desert Heat classic in Tucson, Ariz., where former Iowa Central Community College great Adva Cohen picked up sixth-place finish in the 1,500. The Under Armour Dark Sky Distance athlete ran 4:19.01 in a race won teammate Regan Yee in a new facility record 4:14.47.

Iowa State junior Kaia Holtkamp ran the 800 and placed 13th in 2:09.32. The former Solon runner was just 2.2 seconds behind winner Aaliyah Moore of Kansas.

In the men’s 800, Nebraska redshirt freshman Gabe Nash ended up 15th. The former Sioux City North prep ran 1:49.70 in a race won by unattached athlete Mehdi Yanouri in 1:47.19.

Former Ballard (Huxley) prep great Shewaye Johnson picked up a win in the 5,000 at the Texas A&M Alumni Muster Invitational in College Station. The A&M freshman ran 16:33.53 to cruise to victory by more than 23 seconds.

Closer to home, Iowa hosted the Musco Twilight and Hawkeye sophomore Gabby Cortez picked up a win in the 800. The Cedar Rapids Prairie grad ran 2:05.39 to top sophomore and former Van Meter athlete Clare Kelly, who ran 2:12.42. Cornell College sophomore Ava Claussen-Tubbs stepped up in competition and ran well, taking third in 2:12.65. She ran for Anamosa. In fourth was Hawkeye sophomore Jalyssa Blazek, a Turkey Valley (Jackson Junction) product, in 2:13.07. Northern Iowa sophomore Liza Schaffer was .24 behind Blazek in fifth. Schaffer ran for North Polk. Another former Van Meter runner, Northern Iowa’s Mary Kelly, took sixth in 2:13.74. Kelly is a Panther sophomore. Iowa junior Lily Johannes also broke 2:14 with a 2:13.84 time. Johannes is a Cedar Rapids Prairie grad.

Iowa freshman James Fingalsen was a winner in the men’s 800 after clocking a 1:49.03. Fingalsen prepped at Mason City High and edged Northern Iowa junior Chase Knoche by .15 of a second. Knoche ran for Calamus-Wheatland. Former Iowa runner Chase Lovercheck, running unattached, came across the line in third in 1:49.21 in the quick race. Northern Iowa freshman Jake Bosch, an Ankeny High product, ended up sixth in 1:50.75. Next to finish was Iowa junior and former Dubuque Hempstead prep Derek Leicht in 1:51.03. Also cracking the top 10 was Panther freshman Derek Woods. The former Cedar Falls runner was time in 1:52.12.

Iowa student Hayden Kuhn, running unattached, took the win in the 1,500. The former Pleasant Valley runner clocked a 3:55.65 time to top Northern Iowa’s Levi Hill by 5.11 seconds. Hill is a sophomore and former Ankeny High prep.

Iowa freshman Julia Gehl grabbed a victory in the 3,000. The Dubuque Hempstead product ran 10:18.57 to win by 4.33 seconds.

Northern Iowa freshman Leah Klapatauskas ended up second in the 1,500 to teammate Melody Ochana by 1.39 seconds. The former Dubuque Senior athlete ran 4:44.12.

Former Central College NCAA steeplechase champion Megan Johnson was a winner in that event at the TCU Horned Frog Invite in Fort Worth, Texas. The Oklahoma graduate student, competing unattached, ran 10:25.57 to win by nearly 30 seconds. Johnson attended Aplington-Parkersburg as a prep.

Moving to the Patriot League meet in Worcester, Mass., where former Des Moines Roosevelt prep Adrienne Buettner-Cable finished in the top 10 twice. The Boston University sophomore took eighth in the 1,500 to score one point for the Terriers. Buettner-Cable ran 4:27.58 in a race won by teammate Vera Sjoberg in 4:14.37. She also was ninth in the prelims in 4:31.81.

A fast 1,500 was part of the action at the Wartburg May Triangular in Waverly on May 2. Knights junior Lance Sobaski led the pack with a 3:50.20. The former Washington High prep moved up to 19th on the national list. In second 2.41 seconds behind was senior and former Monticello prep Carter Cruise. Sophomore Nathan Kinzer continued the long run of Wartburg athletes in third in 3:53.99. Kinzer is a Libety High product. Wartburg freshman Solomon Zaugg ran 3:55.21 for fourth. He attended Mediapolis. Senior teammate Sam Schmitz, a former Johnston runner, clocked 3:56.73 for fifth. Fellow senior Michael Goodenbour, who ran for Cedar Falls, was timed in 3:56.93 for sixth. Knights junior Shane Erb was next in 3:58.61. Erb ran for Marion. The Knights juggernaut was broken up by Central College senior Derek Webster. The former Norwalk athlete ran 3:58.69.

Erb also won the rarely contested 3,200 in 9:22.69, topping freshman teammate Nathan Moore by .29 of a second.

Wartburg freshman Clay Warson, a Madrid graduate, was the winner of the 3,000 steeplechase. He ran 9:28.42 and won by 7.34 seconds over junior teammate Conner Sattler, who ran for Clinton.

Runablaze Iowa’s Sarah Bakula beat the collegians in the 1,500. The former Simpson College and Waukon prep ran 4:45.48 to top Simpson College senior Teghan Booth. The former Valley prep ran 4:47.65.

Wartburg junior Rylan Martin picked up a win in the 800. The former New London runner clocked 1:53.71 to top Simpson senior and former Waukee High prep Corbin Truitt by 2.24 seconds.

Moving to the USD Tune UP hosted by South Dakota, where Coyotes freshman Natnael Kifle picked up a solid fourth-place finish in the 1,500. The former Sioux City North prep ran 3:52.24. Teammate Mason Sindelar was the winner in 3:44.21.

South Dakota freshman Madison Brouwer was only 15th in the 1,500, but ran 4:39.91. Brouwer attended Sibley-Ocheyedan. Freshman teammate Geneva Timmerman, who ran for Valley High, ran 4:51.09 for 29th. The winner ran 4:26.81.

Former IKM-Manning prep Quentin Dreyer was a winner by .6 of a second in the 800. The Wayne State (Neb.) junior ran 1:56.07.

At the Senior Spotlight hosted by Illinois State on May 2, former Valley prep Lauren Schulze scored a runner-up finish. The Redbirds senior ran 4:43.47. The winner ran 4:36.89.

Former Solon runner Emma Bock took fourth at the Texas Tech Corky/Crofoot Shootout in Lubbock. The Texas Tech junior ran 2:15.79 in a race won by teammate Lily Mather in 2:10.96.

The NJCAA Region 11 Championships were hosted by Iowa Western in Council Bluffs. Indian Hills Community College freshman Tiffani Koonce was all-region with a third-place finish in the 1,500. The former Prairie City-Monroe athlete ran 4:51.72 in a race won in 4:29.90.

Iowa Western sophomore Will Gessman was all-region in two events. The former Waukee Northwest prep started his busy weekend by placing fourth in the 10,000 in 32:44.52. The winner, teammate Geofrey Ronoh, ran 31:15.85. Gessman followed that with a third-place effort in the 5,000. Gessman ran 15:54.47 in a race won in 15:39.50 by Iowa Central’s Brian Kirwa.

Indian Hills freshman Logan Rosas ran well despite not scoring in the 800. The Mediapolis grad ran 1:53.22 in a race won by Iowa Western’s Ali Benzem in 1:49.34.

Former Vinton-Shellsburg runner Eli Page, representing Des Moines Area Community College, took ninth in the 1,500. The freshman ran 3:56.53, a time that meets the NCJAA standard for nationals, in a race won in 3:47.44 by Iowa Central’s Mohamed Dahmouch.

Returning to the GPAC meet in Nebraska, where Dordt sophomore Kaden Van Wyngarden was a champion. The Pella Christian grad grabbed the victory in the 1,500 in 3:51.70, a time that earns the ‘B’ standard for NAIA nationals. Defenders sophomore teammate Jonathan Breems, who ran for Unity Christian, picked up a point in eighth in 4:00.56.

Northwestern College freshman Carson Van Sickle made a strong debut. The Ogden product ran 1:52.73 in the 800 to trail champion Tyler Salter of Hastings by just .16 of a second. Van Wyngarden took sixth in 1:55.85.

Another former Unity Christian runner, Dordt’s Levi Landman, took second in the 3,000 steeplechase. The junior ran 9:46.45 in a race won by Hastings’ Tatum Jelleberg in 9:38.40. Taking fifth was Northwestern College freshman Alik McIlravy. The former North Polk prep ran 10:06.64.

In the women’s 1,500, Northwestern junior Emily De Groot was fifth. The MOC-FV (Orange City) product ran 4:53.93. Dordt freshman Olivia Hoogland, another former Unity Christian runner, was sixth in 4:56.97. Morningside’s Zuehl placed eighth in 4:58.24.

Shifting to the Heart of American championships in Fayette, Mo., where Mount Mercy graduate student Corinne Gadient became a conference champion. The Anamosa native who is in her final season with the Mustangs won the 800 title. Gadient ran 2:14.84 to top MidAmerica Nazarene’s Alex Gere by .65 of a second.

Gadient wasn’t the only Mustang to claim a champion or earn all-conference honors. Sophomore teammate Abby Knepper gained the ‘A’ standard for NAIA nationals with a victory in the 3,000 steeplechase. The former Beckman (Dyersville) runner clocked a 10:55.38 time to dominate the competition and win by more than 35 seconds.

Senior teammate J’Lyn Knutson picked up an all-conference honor in her final try. The former Melcher-Dallas prep ran the 1,500 in 4:57.97 to grab fourth. The champion was Benedictine (Kan.) runner Mary Cate Golden in 4:53.38.

Sophomore teammate Kalin Rotzoll covered the 5,000 distance in 19:06.18 to place eighth. Rotzoll is a Clear Creek-Amana grad. Julia McLaughlin of Benedictine (Kan.) ran 18:42.17 to take the title.

On the men’s side, former Des Moines Roosevelt runner Matthew Bonner took runner-up honors in the 3,000 steeplechase. The Grand View University senior crossed the finish line in 9:51.28. He was 6.09 seconds behind Benedictine’s Sebastian Michael.

Mount Mercy’s Quinn Swift picked up fourth place in the 10,000. The junior, who attended Algona Garrigan, ran 32:38.80. Senior teammate Lukas Lamparek, a former Cedar Rapids Jefferson runner, was next in 32:39.33. Clarke University senior Drew Pate surged to a sixth-place finish in 32:59.01. Pate graduated from Anamosa. Mount Mercy sophomore Trey Schulte was the last scorer in eighth after running 33:17.38. Schulte is a Benton Community grad. The winner, Park U.’s Lukas Mehl, ran 31:52.23.

In the 1,500, Mount Mercy junior Brady Cortez grabbed a sixth-place finish. The former Cedar Rapids Prairie athlete ran 4:03.79. Another former Anamosa runner, Clarke’s Kole Haverly, clocked 4:04.03 for seventh. He is a senior. William Penn sophomore Andrew Miller barely missed scoring, taking ninth in 4:04.15. He attended Pleasant Valley. The winner was Palmer O’Connor in 3:57.85.

Moving to the Battle of the Bluffs hosted by the University of Dubuque on May 2. Loras junior and former Johnston prep Bailey Vaughan took second in the 1,500 in 4:46.59. Vaughan was just .57 of a second behind Delisha Davis of Dubuque.

Former Iowa City High runner Parker Max picked up a fourth-place finish in the 1,500 at the St. Olaf Ole Open on May 3. The St. Olaf junior ran 4:05.15 in a race won in 3:57.68.

Shifting to the roads and the Sunday, May 4 Lincoln Marathon and Half Marathon in Nebraska, where recent Drake Relays 10,000 champion Blake Whalen secured a runner-up finish. The Runablaze Iowa athlete who attended Dubuque Senior and Iowa Central Community College covered the 13.1-mile distance in 1:05:34. The Des Moines man moved up three spots from a year ago, when he ran 1:07:05. The winner was Ryder Searle of Lakewood, Colo, in 1:04:56.

Two Runablaze athletes cracked the top 10 in the women’s half marathon. Former Dordt and Unity Christian (Orange City) standout Jen Van Otterloo narrowly missed a new personal record by 12 seconds while running 1:19:07 for fourth place. Van Otterloo, 38, lives in Sioux Center. Reigning IMT Des Moines Marathon champion Angela Chaney was next in 1:20:13. Chaney is a former Norwalk and Central College athlete. The winner was Rachael Rudel, 31, of Fort Collins, Colo.

Former Luther College runner Tricia Serres of Dubuque was the winner of the Lake Monona 20K in Monona, Wis. The Runablaze athlete, 31, who resides in Dubuque ran 1:17:10 for the 12.4-mile distance.

At the April 30 Klompen Classic that kicks off Tulip Time in Pella, Pella High senior Canaan Dunham, 18, repeated as overall winner. Dunham ran 14:58.59 to top former BCLUW (Conrad) and Central College athlete Caleb Silver, 23, of Oskaloosa. Silver ran 15:12.71. Crown Running’s Kyle Pape, likewise a former Central athlete who ran for Dubuque Wahlert, was third. Pape, 27, of Ankeny ran 15:32.38. The top masters runner for the third consecutive year was Running Wild Elite’s Nate Hoppe, 42, of Cedar Rapids. Hopp ran 15:59.46.

Pella High junior Marissa Ferebee, 16, was the overall women’s champion. Ferebee ran 17:38.41. Past champion Danna Herrick, a former Boone runner, ran 17:54.28 for second. Herrick, 38, lives in Norwalk.

At the Des Moines Women’s Half Marathon on May 3, Abigail Mancuso, 37, of Johnston was the champion in 1:21:59. Taking second was professional triathlete Jess Smith, 43, of Clive in 1:23:46.

Finishing with triathlon, where Runablaze team leader Tyson Wieland, 31, of Des Moines set a new course record while winning the Tri by Knight Triathlon in Waverly. The former Johnston and Iowa Central athlete covered the sprint event in 57:34. Taking second was was former Denver prep and Wartburg runner Curren Mathias, 26, of Cedar Falls in 59:08. Sarah Spooner, 34, of Marion was the women’s winner in a strong 1:05:21 time.

GOING BACK: Much of the chatter during the Drake Relays involved the return of Iowa natives and Olympians Karissa Schweizer and Shelby Houlihan. Both owned the lead late in the special Women’s Mile WACT race, with Houlihan taking the lead with 100 meters to go. However, the April 22 USATF 1 Mile Road champion in Des Moines, Krissy Gear, passed Houlihan for the win in 4:23.69. Houlihan ran 4:23.84 for second and Schweizer was third in 4:25.27. You can read all about the race here: https://tinyurl.com/n7kxs5ma

Other professionals from Iowa also competed during the Relays’ standout day of action on Saturday, April 26. Former Davenport Assumption standout and University of Iowa all-Big Ten runner Mallory (King) Lindaman finished second in the women’s WACT 800. The Iowa City resident was in the lead on the fronstretch before Oregon senior Klaudia Kazimierska, who competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 1,500, swept by to win in 2:02.03. Lindaman ran 2:02.75.

On that final lap, Northern Iowa head cross country coach and Panther record-holder Alexina (Wilson) Teubel took the lead while coming off the fourth corner before Lindaman pulled ahead briefly and then both were passed by Kazimierska. Lindaman ran 2:02.75 and Wilson, a former Mount Vernon/Lisbon prep, ran a new lifetime best of 2:03.21. Lindaman was just .1 of a second off

In the men’s WACT 1,500, former Drake University three-time All-American and six-time Missouri Valley Conference champion Isaac Basten came in sixth. The BAA High Performance team member based in Boston ran 3:41.01. Former Iowa State standout Silas Winders, a new Fitness Sports Distance Project team member, ran 3:44.86 for 11th. Basten’s former teammate, Adam Fogg, paced for the race.

Iowa State 3,000 steeplechase record-holder Janette Schraft finished fourth in the WACT 3,000 steeplechase on Friday, April 25. The former Glenwood and East Mills prep ran 9:37.87, about three seconds off her personal record. Sophie Novak was the champion in 9:28.98.

Will return will all of the top finishers from the Relays in a short bit, but turning to the Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., on April 25. Iowa all-time 5,000-meter cross country record-holder Paityn Noe took the victory in Section 1 of the 5,000. The Arkansas sophomore ran 15:28.04 to top senior teammate Sydney Thorvaldson by 8.31 seconds.

At the Fighting Illini Twilight meet in Champaign, Ill., on April 26, former Southeast Polk prep star Mattison Plummer took the victory in the 3,000 steeplechase in 10:17.17. The Illinois State student was running unattached. The 2024 Drake 3,000 steeplechase invitational champion won by 9.42 seconds.

Senior teammate and former Valley High product Lauren Schulze placed a close second in the 5,000. Schulze ran 17:31.70, just .87 of a second behind Purdue freshman Elise Peckinpaugh.

Shifting back to the Drake Relays, where Iowa State junior redshirt Kiki Connell picked up a victory in the women’s open 3,000 steeplechase. The former Charles City runner clocked 10:16.83 to pull away from Oregon’s Kendall Martin late. Connell won by 3.88 seconds over Martin.

“On the drive here I said, ‘Blue Oval magic,’ ” Connell said. “Like it’s going to happen. I have a lot of people who love me here. I’m super appreciative of all my support. Words can’t describe it. I’m going to get emotional.”

Wartburg senior and former Iowa Falls-Alden prep Ellie Meyer claimed seventh in 10:38.54. Central College senior Addy Parrott, a former Danville runner, placed 12th in 10:53.33. Mount Mercy sophomore Abby Knepper took 23rd in 11:22.02. Knepper ran for Beckman (Dyersville). St. Ambrose sophomore and North Scott graduate Kaitlyn Knoche was next across the line in 11:31.81.

Runablaze Iowa’s Blake Whalen was a winner in a chaotic men’s 10,000 late in the evening on Thursday, April 24. The former Dubuque Senior and Iowa Central Community College runner watched as Northern Iowa redshirt junior Caleb Shumaker staggered on a humid night and then fell to the track on the frontstretch of the final lap. Whalen swept past on the outside to win in 30:13.66.

“This was super special,” the Des Moines man said. “I’ve always wanted to win one of these flags. It’s not exactly how I wanted to win with him falling at the end. I fluked one out.”

Shumaker bounced back up and got to the finish line for second in 30:19.98. He is a former Tipton prep. Taking third in his debut at 10,000 was Iowa freshman and former Cedar Rapids Kennedy prep Miles Wilson. Wilson fell off with 1,000 meters to go but took third in 30:21.98. Wartburg College sophomore Isaiah Hammerand was also in the lead pack for 19 laps. The Western Dubuque product came across fifth in 30:32.71. Fitness Sports Distance Project athlete and former Cardinal (Eldon) and Grand View University runner Trevor Albert ran 30:35.43 for seventh. Ending up 18th was Northern Iowa freshman and former Council Bluffs St. Albert prep Colin Lillie. Lillie ran 31:36.90.

Iowa freshman Luke Knepp grabbed third in the men’s 3,000 open steeplechase event April 24. The Pleasant Valley graduate ran 8:43.84 in his steeplechase debut. Senior teammate and former Johnston prep Yohana Yual claimed fifth in a new personal record of 8:48.32. Christopher Collet, a former Wartburgnational runner-up in the 3,000 steeplchase, was sixth in 8:49.67. Current Wartburg runner Lance Sobaski, who prepped at Washington High, ran 8:51.29 for seventh. Senior teammate Jack Kinzer, who ran for Liberty High, was 12th in 8:56.51. Iowa student Hayden Kuhn, running unattached, was 24th in 9:10.94. Kuhn is a former Pleasant Valley runner. The winner was professional Daniel Michalski in 8:27.81.

Buena Vista University senior Kyle Miller narrowly missed his personal record while placing a strong third and beating several NCAA Division I runners in the seeded 800. The former Carlisle prep ran 1:49.98. Northern Iowa junior and former Calamus-Wheatland runner Chase Knoche ended up sixth in 1:50.70. Nebraska redshirt freshman Gabe Nash claimed seventh in 1:50.74. Nash ran for Sioux City North. St. Ambrose sophomore and former Johnston prep Dylan Grandon ran 1:50.92 for eighth. Iowa State student Tommy Tyynismaa, running unattached, was timed in 1:53.18 for 23rd. He ran for South Tama County. The winner was Adam Swanson in 1:49.52.

Central College junior Peyton Steffen stepped up against good competition and ran the third-best time in program history, 16:42.09, while placing 10th in the open 5,000 on April 24. The former Marion prep earned American Rivers Conference women’s track athlete of the week. Gonzaga’s Rosina Machu-Shuri was the winner in 15:54.97.

Wartburg senior Jacob Green placed seventh in the open 5,000 on April 24. The former Cedar Rapids Kennedy athlete ran 14:24.1. Central senior Jack Brown, who went to Norwalk, took 12th in 14:53.37. The winner was South Dakota State’s Carson Noecker in 14:12.40.

South Dakota freshman Natnael Kifle ran a new lifetime best of 14:30.19 while placing third in the open 5,000. Kifle ran for Sioux City North. His former North teammate, sophomore Will Lohr of rival South Dakota State, ran 14:31.38. Lohr narrowly missed a new personal record. Former Davenport Central and Loras College star Mason Tope took sixth in 14:32.49. Tope now resides in Las Vegas. Wartburg freshman and former Mediapolis runner Solomon Zaugg took 12th in 14:48.22. FSDP’s Joe Anderson, a former All-American at Dordt University and Central Lyon-GLR prep, came in 14th in 15:00.00. Jonathan Harley was the winner in 14:14.78.

Moving to the relays at the Relays, which offered many highlights from Iowa collegians. One of top battles involved the Iowa and Iowa State men in the 4×800. The Hawkeyes won their first 4×800 at Drake since 2017 while denying the rival Cyclones their 15th title in this event. On a relay with Iowans Derek Leicht (Dubuque Hempstead) and James Fingalsen (Mason City High) on the first two legs, Iowa ran a world-leading 7:21.88 for 2025. Iowa State had to settle for second in 7:23.10.

“I grew up an Iowa fan my whole life so being able to contribute to something like this for the team really feels great,” Leicht said. “It’s something I’ve dreamed of for sure.”

An all-Iowa Northern Iowa team of Drake Hanson, Derek Woods, Knoche and Jake Bosch took fourth in 7:28.03. Hanson ran for Southeast Polk, Woods for Cedar Falls, Knoche as mentioned for Calamus-Wheatland and Bosch for Ankeny High.

Iowa’s sprint medley relay used a victory in this event en route to winning the Relays Cup in the women’s division. The key was the 800 anchor from graduate student Alli Bookin-Nosbisch, who ran a 2:04.35 leg to propel the Hawkeyes to first in 3:44.12. Iowa State was second in 3:44.53 and Northern Iowa, with senior and former Waverly-Shell Rock prep Emma Hoins on the anchor, ended up ninth in 3:59.23.

The Iowa State men likewise used a victory in the 4×1600 relay on April 25, the 12th in program history, to surge to the Relays Cup. Leadoff man Quinton Orr got the Cyclones started with a 4:09.66 that gave the Cyclones a three-second lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Iowa State ran 16:38.06 to tie Illinois for the most wins in this event. Orr is a redshirt junior and former Humboldt prep

“I’m sure there will be pictures of holding the Drake Relays champion flag,” Orr said. “No one’s going to know what split I ran. Who cares about the time? They just see ‘winner.’ “

Drake, with former Dallas Center-Grimes prep standout Aidan Ramsey on the lead leg, ran 16:58.69 for a distant second place. South Dakota State, with Lohr running leadoff, took fourth in 17:03.55. Iowa had Yual, Knepp, former Dowling Catholic prep Will Ryan and former Cedar Falls runner Brayden Burnett on its legs. The Hawkeyes were sixth in 17:16.86. South Dakota was eighth in 17:36.14 with Kifle on the opening leg.

Central College set a new Iowa College record in the 4,000-meter distance medley relay. A relay with former Norwalk preps Derek Webster (1,200) and Jack Brown (1,600), along with Alex Volden (400) and Kaleb Brand (800), erased Dordt University’s record of 10:07.48 from 2022 by running 10:06.15. Brown pulled away from Dordt’s anchor on the final lap. Volden ran for Cedar Rapids Kennedy while Brand is a Mount Vernon product. The Defenders, with former MOC-Floyd Valley prep Sam May running leadoff, clocked 10:09.97 for second. St. Ambrose, with Grandon on the 800 and former North Scott prep Will Dowda on the anchor, took third in 10:11.56. William Penn, with Pleasant Valley grad Andrew Miller on the leadoff 1,200, ran 10:20.75 for fourth. Clarke University, with former Monticello preps Chesney Capron (1,200) and Cord Nietert (800) as well as former Anamosa athlete Kole Haverly, were timed in 10:21.79 for sixth.

Wartburg College’s DMR won its first Iowa College title since 2013 with anchor Ellie Meyer topping Dordt’s anchor on the 1,600 leg. The former Iowa Falls-Alden prep led the Knights to the win in 11:58.44. Other relay members included former Saint Ansgar prep Natalie Bork (400) and former Kee (Lansing) athlete Haley Meyer (800).

Dordt did win a title when its 4×800 held off Minnesota-Duluth in the university 4×800. A unit with former Western Christian (Hull) product Emilee Heynen on the third leg ran 9:02.33, an NAIA nationals ‘A’ standard time, to win by 2.04 seconds. Iowa Western, with former Treynor prep Alyssa Kulesa on the second leg, got the NJCAA nationals standard while placing fifth in 9:15.28. Morningside, with former Logan-Magnolia runner Courtney Sporrer on anchor, ran a ‘B’ standard time of 9:22.68 while taking seventh.

Iowa State’s 4×800, with former Solon prep Kaia Holtkamp running leadoff, took second in the 4×800 in 8:40.86. Iowa, with former Van Meter athlete Clare Kelly, Cedar Rapids Prairie grad Gabby Cortez and Bookin-Nosbisch on anchor, took third in 8:41.93. Oregon won in 8:30.12

Iowa State’s DMR likewise also finished second, to Utah, after clocking an 11:09.58 time. That unit included former Johnston prep Bella Heikes on the 1,600 anchor and former Ames prep Cameron Moon on the 400. Iowa, with former Turkey Valley (Jackson Junction) prep Jalyssa Blazek (1,200) and Cortez (400), ran 11:28.80 for seventh. Utah ran 11:07.60.

Northern Iowa’s DMR finished third in the university division, with Hanson, Bosch, Woods and former Pella High prep Chase Lauman making up that unit. They ran 9:46.51. South Dakota State pulled off the win in 9:37.05.

Dordt’s 4×800 picked up a sixth-place finish with former Pella High prep Josiah Wittenberg, former Pella Christian prep Kaden Van Wyngarden and former MOC-FV athlete Sam May running the 2-4 spots. The Defenders ran 7:36.56, a time that gets them to NAIA nationals. Wartburg, with former Monticello prep Carter Cruise, former Cedar Falls runner Ben Roussell, Wapello grad Aiden Housman and New London product Rylan Martin, ran 7:37.95 for ninth. An Iowa Western squad with former Urbandale prep Landon Hartley on the anchor, ran an NJCAA qualifying time of 7:45.13 while taking 12th. Loras College, with former Cedar Rapids Prairie prep Carlo Dannenfelser and former Lisbon runner Michael Gadberry on the first and third legs, ran 7:46.02 for 13th. Luther College, with former Waukee High prep Jalen Taha running the third leg, took 14th in 7:46.70.

Dannenfelser also ran on Loras’ university/college DMR that placed fourth in 9:56.39. Alson that unit was 400 runner and former Bellevue prep Casey Tath. Wartburg was next in 9:58.13, with former Liberty High prep Aidan Decker (1,200) and Decorah product Cade Olson (400) joining Martin (800) and Sobaski (1,600) on a unit that ran 9:58.13 for fifth. Cornell College, with former Madrid prep Gabe Soda (1,200) and Mount Vernon product Jensen Meeker (400) on the relay, ran 9:59.50 for sixth. Augustana (S.D.) won in 9:49.64.

A South Dakota team with Nash, the former Sioux City North prep, on the anchor 800 took ninth in the university sprint medley relay in 3:29.33.

Finishing with individual events from the Relays. Former Ankeny High runner Millie Hill, a Northern Iowa student but redshirting, took runner-up honors in the unseeded women’s 5,000. Hill ran 16:52.94 to finish .36 behind South Dakota State’s Eleni Lovgren. Valley grad Geneva Timmerman, now a freshman at South Dakota, ran 16:54.07 for third. Taking 13th was Iowa freshman and former Sumner-Fredricksburg runner Hillary Trainor in 17:19.57.

In the women’s 10,000, former Marion and Iowa athlete Maddie Block came across the finish line in third in 34:53.19. Minnesota-Duluth graduate student Shaelyn Hostager, a former Wartburg and Dubuque Hempstead runner, was fifth in 34:56.62, a time that gains the NCAA Division II standard. Her former Wartburg teammate, Lexi Brown of the FSDP team, ran 36:02.17 for ninth. Brown ran at New London. Simpson College senior and Valley product Teghan Booth ran 36:23.26 for 12th. Behind her was former Albia and Iowa runner Jordan Winke of the FSDP team in 36:28.01. Tulane’s Blezzin Kimutai won in 34:06.66.

Heikes was put in a strong 1,500 university/college race April 25 and the Iowa State junior produced a solid 4:21.35 time that was about four seconds off her personal record. The former Johnston prep was 8.24 seconds behind winner Juliet Cherubet of Oregon.

In the university/college unseeded 1,500, Northern Iowa’s Hoins took seventh in 4:27.02. Blazek of Iowa ended up 14th in 4:31.56. Kansas State’s Vienna Lahner won in 4:22.37.

In the university/college unseeded 800, Iowa’s Kelly placed ninth in 2:11.66. Wartburg’s Haley Meyer grabbed 12th in 2:13.01. Iowa junior Lily Johannes, who ran for Cedar Rapids Prairie, clocked 2:14.07 for 14th.

Several former Iowa preps competed in the unseeded university/college men’s 1,500. Iowa freshman Carson Lane was the leader in 14th in 3:55.15. Lane ran for Johnston. Lauman of Northern Iowa took 16th in 3:56.13. Wartburg’s Decker was next in 3:56.74. Iowa sophomore Carson Houg followed Decker in 3:57.16. Houg is a former Des Moines Christian runner.

The Kip Janvrin Open hosted by Simpson in Indianola is always held at the same time as the Relays and several college and unattached runners fared well. Simpson’s 10,000 national champion from a year ago, Spencer Moon, took victory in the 5,000. The FSDP runner came across in 14:36.89 to win by nearly five seconds over Western Illinois’ Robert Perry. FSDP teammate Jack Moran took fifth in 14:47.94. Central College’s Webster ran 14:55.37 for eighth. Former Pleasant Valley runner Carl Rekow, running unattached but at North Dakota State, clocked 15:01.16 for ninth. Former Johnston prep Ben Neville, a freshman at Wartburg, cracked the top 10 in 15:02.47. Runablaze Iowa’s Matt Lorenz ended up 20th in 15:09.40.

Wartburg sophomore Nathan Kinzer turned in a strong 1,500 time of 3:52.09 for second place. Kinzer is a former Liberty High prep. Senior teammate Sam Schmitz was fourth in 3:53.74. Schmitz ran for Johnston. Northern Iowa freshman and former Johnston runner Brayden Picken clocked 3:58.10 for ninth. The winner was Iowa Central’s John Mabar in 3:50.26.

Wartburg’s Martin also ran an 800 in Indianola and was runner-up in 1:52.83. Northern Iowa junior Jayden Dickson, who ran for Earlham, ran 1:54.75 for ninth. Wartburg’s Cruise was .08 behind him in 10th.

Northern Iowa sophomore Liza Schaffer ran 4:33.68 in the 1,500 to take second. Schaffer ran for North Polk. Northern Iowa freshman Clare Wright was 12th in 4:47.01. Wright ran for Jesup. Panther sophomore teammate Brooke O’Brien, who attended Dubuque Hempstead, was .68 back in 14th.

Former Dordt and Morningside standout Kristine Honomichl, competing unattached, took fourth in the 5,000. She ran 17:40.11 in a race won in 17:31.73.

Former Des Moines Roosevelt runner Sally Gaskell finished 14th in the 1,500 preliminaries for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at the SCIAC championships at Occidental College in Los Angeles. The sophomore ran 4:50.39, but didn’t advance to the final.

Indian Hills Community College freshman and former Mediapolis prep Logan Rosas ran 1:54.11 for 800 meters at the John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., on April 25. Rosas ran 1:54.11. Teammate Raynier Galvez was the winner in 1:49.19.

At the Grand View Viking Classic in Des Moines on April 25, Grand View’s Nathan Limas achieved the ‘A’ standard for NAIA nationals in the 5,000 race walk. The former Roland-Story athlete finished in 23:42.69 while winning by more than 2:30.

Moving to triathlon, where former Storm Lake resident Matt Hanson finished 11th at the Ironman North American Championship Texas event at The Woodlands, Texas, on April 27. Hanson, now based in Castle Rock, Colo., covered the 1.2-mile swim in 51:42, the 112-mile bike in 4:08:22 and the marathon run in 2:42:33 to finish in 7:47:13. Hanson is a five-time Ironman champion who set a full Ironman record on this course several years ago. He is a former Buena Vista University student and professor. The winner was Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt in 7:24:20.

Turning to the roads, where former Wartburg College great Joe Freiburger has returned from hip surgery to run a personal record. The former Western Dubuque prep now based in Beaverton, Ore., and a member of the Bowerman Track Club Elite team placed ninth in the Eugene Half Marathon on Sunday, April 27. Freiburger, 25, ran 1:07:49. Runablaze’s Tyler Lance ran 1:09:19 for 12th. Lance, 29, lives in Algona. The winner, Jackson Mestler, ran 1:05:05.

Luther College and Cedar Falls prep Sam Schillinger finished 24th at the Eugene Marathon. Schillinger, 29, now living in Eugene, ran 2:35:11.

Placing fifth among the women was Emma Huston, Drake record holder in the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 meters. The 30-year-old former Des Moines Roosevelt prep based in Portland, Ore., ran 1:19:26. The winner, Hannah Culvert, ran 1:16:43.

At the Kewash Trail Half Marathon on April 26 in Washington, Running Wild Elite’s Brett Rosauer, 34, of Iowa City was the winner. Rosauer ran 1:10:37 to win by nearly seven minutes.

GOING FARTHER BACK: RWE’s Nathan Hopp was the overall winner and the top masters finisher in 16:29 at The Cities Spring Classic in Moline, Ill., on April 19.

MISSING A TOP DISTANCE RUNNER OR TRIATHLETE?: Let me know at bergeson@registermedia.com.

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This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Mile posts: Items on Biya Simbassa, Cailie Logue Hughes, Kassie Parker, Courtney Sporrer, Riley Witt, Gabby Cortez

Reporting by Lance Bergeson, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register

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