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.
The results highlight the continued progress of Illinois College’s athletic programs, which provide student-athletes with opportunities to balance academics and athletics while fostering both team spirit and individual achievement. According to the official athletics website, Illinois College Blue Boys Men’s Track and Field supports these values .
During Friday’s evening session, the men’s 4×200-meter relay team—composed of Kani Carson, Simeon Smith, Adam Hernandez, and Sam Stimler—set a new school record with a time of 1:26.20. This performance secured them second place in their heat and fifth overall. Earlier in the day, another milestone was reached when the men’s 4×100-meter relay team (Ki’on Carson, Kani Carson, Blake Larson, and Stimler) posted a season-best time for the Midwest Conference at 41.84 seconds. The result placed them fifth in their heat and thirteenth overall.
On the women’s side, McKenzie Murray, Haley Garrett, Fynesse Jones, and Deja Anderson finished fifth in their heat for the women’s 4×100-meter relay with a time of 48.33 seconds to rank nineteenth overall. Later that day Murray teamed up with Jones, Garrett, and Aleese Trimingham to set another school record for Illinois College by completing the women’s 4×200-meter relay in 1:41.56—the group finished third in its heat and fourteenth overall.
Illinois College Blue Boys Men’s Track and Field participates under NCAA Division III guidelines as part of the Midwest Athletic Conference according to its official website. The program offers student-athletes chances to compete at a college level while growing academically according to its official website.
The Drake Relays are scheduled to conclude tomorrow as Melvin Hodge competes in hammer throw events while Riley Gardner participates in high jump.
