Bucklin Lowers School Record In 55m Hurdles At Hilltop Open
Lauren Bucklin (Jr., Bondurant, Iowa, Bondurant-Farrar H.S.) lowered her own school record in the 55m hurdles to highlight Simpson College's performance at the Cornell College Hilltop Open Feb. 7 in Mt. Vernon. There were no team scores.
Bucklin won the 55m hurdles in a time of :8.27, breaking her own school record of :8.32 which was set during the 2008 indoor season. Bucklin's time is the fourth fastest in Division III this season. Bucklin finished second in the 200m in a time of :26.80. Bucklin was also part of the Simpson 4x400m "A" relay along with Molly Sabers (So., Iowa City, City H.S.), Nicole Mulder (Fr., Boyden, Iowa, Boyden-Hull H.S.), and Catie Ellingson (So., Indianola, Iowa, Indianola H.S.) that came in second with a time of 4:07.28.
Ellingson also won an individual race, the mile run, as she took home top honors with a time of 5:18.25.
Sarah Hammel (Jr., Dorchester, Iowa, Waukon H.S.) won the 800m as she posted a time of 2:21.41.
Jess Christensen (Jr., Harlan, Iowa, Harlan H.S.) finished second in the 3000m (10:47.91). Kinsey Bak (Fr., Hinton, Iowa, Hinton H.S.) tied for second in the high jump (4-11) with two others. Kayla Knaack (Sr., Correctionville, Iowa, River Valley H.S.) placed fourth in the weight throw (47-7 ¼).
Rachel Smith (Fr., Marion, Iowa, Marion H.S.) placed fourth in the 800 (2:30.41). Tricia Davis (Jr., Ft. Madison, Iowa, Ft. Madison H.S.) was fifth in the 3000m (11:21.61). Corie Peterson (Fr., Lakeville, Minn., North H.S.) tied for fifth in the pole vault (8-6) with one other athlete. Sabers placed fifth in the 200m (:27.88) and sixth in the 55m hurdles (:9.36). Carissa Coopman (Fr., Davenport, Iowa, North H.S.) finished sixth in the shot put (40-4 ¼). Mulder finished eighth in the race (:28.31).
In other relay action, the distance medley squad of Christensen, Mulder, Ellingson, and Hammel were second (12:32.85). The Storm 4x400m "B" team of Hammel, Alyssa Hedrick (Jr., Council Bluffs, Iowa, Jefferson H.S.), Bak, and Brittane Nederhoff (Fr., Grundy Center, Iowa, Grundy Center H.S.) turned in a seventh place showing (4:22.21).
"It is exciting to see how well the teams are coming together," said Simpson head coach Dave Cleveland. "I'm very pleased with the work ethic, attitude, and level of performance thus far. I feel that we have made a lot of progress after not completing for two weeks. The success that we enjoyed at this meet should gives us some momentum as we move forward. I'm really proud of our kids."