PELLA, Iowa- The Knights No. 10 ranked men's and No. 11 ranked women's track and field teams completed the second day of the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The men's team is in first place with 58 points. The women's team is in first place with 120 points.
 
Lance Sobaski (3000m steeplechase), Caitlin Benesh (heptathlon), Ema Roberts (high jump), Olivia Tollari (long jump), Abby Veld (shot put), and Morgan Engel (10000m) were named conference champions in today's action.
 
Additionally, JoJo Tyynismaa put together a historic performance in the prelims of the 100m dash by breaking the program record.
 
Team Standings (Men)
1. Wartburg                                   59 points
2. Loras                                         58 points
3. Central                                       55 points
4. Dubuque                                    54 points
5. Nebraska Wesleyan                  32 points
6. Simpson                                    25.5 points
7. Luther                                        24.5 points
8. Coe                                            3 points
9. Buena Vista                                0 points
 
Team Standings (Women)
1. Wartburg                                   120 points
2. Central                                       44 points
3. Dubuque                                   37 points
4. Loras                                         35 points
5. Nebraska Wesleyan                  29 points
6. Simpson                                    25 points
7. Buena Vista                              13 points
8. Luther                                        6 points
9. Coe                                            2 points
 
Mitchell Darst earned All-Conference honors with 5761 points to finish in third place in the decathlon. Darst ranks ninth on the program's top 10 list.
 
Caitlin Benesh was named the conference champion in the heptathlon with 4692 points, which is her second career outdoor conference title. Benesh has now won the heptathlon in back-to-back seasons. Benesh remains second on the program's top 10 list, but improves her overall points. Benesh stands 14^th on the TFRRS list for this season. Benesh is the fourth conference champion in the outdoor heptathlon in program history.
 
Scoring Link
 
FIELD EVENTS
(M) Decathlon (Pole Vault): Mitchell Darst earned a top three finish with a 3.70m 12-01.50 mark.
 
(M) Decathlon (Javelin Throw): Mitchell Darst put together a 32.61m 107-00 mark in the event.
 
(M) Decathlon (Discus): Mitchell Darst finished the event with a 27.86m 91-05 mark.
 
(W) Heptathlon (Long Jump): Caitlin Benesh was victorious with a 5.26m 17-03.25 mark. Jazmine Woode finished with a 4.39m 14-05.00 mark and Brynn Epperly finished with a 4.34m 14-03.00 mark.
 
(W) Heptathlon (Javelin Throw): Caitlin Benesh earned a top five finish with a 33.29m 109-02 mark. Jazmine Woode finished with a 26.48m 86-10 mark and Brynn Epperly finished with a 23.39m 76-09 mark.
 
(M) High Jump: Cael Schramm was the top performer for the Knights and finished with a 1.88m 6-02.00 mark.
 
(W) High Jump: Ema Roberts was the conference champion with a 1.70m 5-07.00 mark, which is her first career conference title. Roberts is the 11^th conference champion in the outdoor high jump in program history. Samantha Nielsen placed fourth with a 1.59m 5-02.50 mark.
 
(M) Long Jump: Jayden Maten was the top finisher for the Knights with a 6.26m 20-06.50 mark.
 
(W) Long Jump: Olivia Tollari was the conference champion with a 5.66m 18-07.00 mark, which is her first career outdoor individual conference title. Tollari completes the season sweep in the long jump, as she was the conference champion in the indoor season. Tollari is the ninth conference champion in the outdoor long jump in program history. Adalyn Sporleder placed fourth with a 5.47m 17-11.50 mark, which ranks ninth on the program's top 10 list. Grace Braden earned a top five finish with a 5.45m 17-10.75 mark.
 
(M) Shot Put: Eli Keahna led the Knights in the event with a 13.67m 44-10.25 mark.
 
(W) Shot Put: Abby Veld was named the conference champion with a 13.75m 45-01.50 mark, which is her first career conference title. Veld ranks eighth on the program's top 10 list and stands 12^th on the TFRRS list for this season. Veld is the eighth conference champion in the outdoor shot put in program history.
 
(M) Discus: Cael Schramm led the Knights and placed fourth with a 46.57m 152-09 mark.
 
(W) Discus: Abby Veld earned All-Conference honors with a 46.14m 151-04 mark to finish in second place. Veld remains fourth on the program's top 10 list, but improves her mark. Additionally, Veld stands 10^th on the TFFRS list for this season. Lydia Kriegel placed fourth with a 42.50m 139-05 mark.
 
RUNNING EVENTS
(M) Decathlon (1500m): Mitchell Darst earned a top five finish with a time of 5:10.44.
 
(M) Decathlon (110m Hurdles): Mitchell Darst finished in fourth place with a time of 15.60.
 
(W) Heptathlon (800m): Caitlin Benesh earned the event win with a time of 2:25.61. Brynn Epperly finished with a time of 3:01.56 and Jazmine Woode followed with a time of 3:03.29.
 
(M) 10000m: Isaiah Hammerand earned All-Conference honors with a time of 30:06.48 to take second place. Ayden Buchanan followed to earn All-Conference honors with a time of 30:15.48, which ranks ninth on the program's top 10 list. AJ Schermerhorn earned a top five finish with a time of  30:55.63.
 
(W) 10000m: Morgan Engel was named the conference champion with a time of 37:41.54, which is her first career outdoor title. Engel is the eighth conference champion in the 10000m in program history. Kelly Giardina (38:02.24) and Abbey Angus (38:13.66) each earned All-Conference honors with their second and third place finishes, respectively. Ava Vance earned a top five finish with a time of 38:32.47.
 
(M) 3000m Steeplechase: Lance Sobaski was named the conference champion with a time of 8:47.13, which is his second career conference title. Sobaski set a meet record and facility record with his performance. Sobaski has now won the event in back-to-back seasons. Sobaski is the 18^th conference champion in the 3000m steeplechase in program history. The Knights extend their streak to five straight years with a champion in the event. Aidan Decker finished in fourth place with a time of 9:16.97 and Conner Sattler finished fifth with a time of 9:17.20.
 
(W) 3000m Steeplechase: Maddie Merna earned All-Conference honors with a time of 10:57.02 to place third, which ranks fourth on the program's top 10 list. Anna Quillin placed fourth with a time of 11:20.74 and Bethany Warren followed with a time of 11:27.81.
 
(M) 800m (Prelims): The Knights had four competitors advance to tomorrow's finals. Hutton Edney finished in the top three with a time of 1:55.08 and Rylan Martin finished in the top five with a time of 1:55.48. Logan Rosas finished in seventh place with a time of 1:55.97 and Gage Heyne followed with a time of 1:55.99.
 
(W) 800m (Prelims): The Knights had three competitors advance to tomorrow's finals. Haley Meyer placed first with a time of 2:16.39, Hannah Ramsey placed sixth with a time of 2:17.69, and Janae Hansen placed eighth with a time of 2:18.57.
 
(M) 400m Hurdles (Prelims): The Knights had three competitors advance to tomorrow's finals. Seneca Molstre was the top performer in the field with a time of 53.98, which ranks seventh on the program's top 10 list. Weston Johnson finished in fourth place with a time of 55.89 and Christian Timmerman finished in seventh place with a time of 57.21.
 
(W) 400m Hurdles (Prelims): The Knights had four competitors advance to tomorrow's finals. Grace Braden was the leader with a time of 1:03.03. Lillan Olson finished in fourth place with a time of 1:04.89 and Sophia Stahle followed with a time of 1:05.03. Ryann Decker finished in eighth place with a time of 1:05.59.
 
(M) 400m (Prelims): Cade Olson qualified for tomorrow's finals. Olson was a top five finisher with a time of 48.86.
 
(W) 400m (Prelims): The Knights had two competitors advance to tomorrow's finals. Natalie Bork earned a top five finish with a time of 57.64 and Olivia Tollari followed with a 57.65.
 
(M) 200m (Prelims): The Knights had two competitors advance to tomorrow's finals. AJ Wright was the leader in the event with a time of 21.70. Jordan Cleaves finished in seventh place with a time of 22.47.
 
(W) 200m (Prelims): The Knights had three competitors advance to tomorrow's finals. JoJo Tyynismaa was the first place finisher with a time of 24.57, which stands 15^th on the TFRRS list for this season. Tyynismaa remains sixth on the program's top 10 list, but improves her time. Olivia Tollari finished in sixth place with a time of 25.57 and Adalyn Sporleder finished in eighth place with a time of 25.96.
 
(M) 110m Hurdles (Prelims): The Knights had two competitors advance to tomorrow's finals. Weston Johnson finished in sixth with a time of 14.93 and Austin Rindels followed with a time of 15.01.
 
(W) 100m Hurdles (Prelims): The Knights had three competitors advance to tomorrow's finals. JoJo Tyynismaa was the winner with a time of 13.96, which is a meet record. Tyynismaa is now tied for first on the program's top 10 list and stands sixth on the TFRRS list for this season. Grace Braden was the runner-up with a time of 14.17 and Aly Stahle placed eighth with a time of 15.31.
 
(M) 100m (Prelims): The Knights had two competitors advance to tomorrow's finals. AJ Wright was the leader in the field with a time of 10.59 and Jordan Cleaves finished seventh with a time of 10.84.
 
(W) 100m (Prelims): The Knights had two competitors advance to tomorrow's finals. JoJo Tyynismaa got her weekend started in spectacular fashion with a program record and meet record of 11.64 seconds. Tyynsimaa finished first in the event and stands second on the TFRRS list for this season. Adalyn Sporleder finished in eighth place with a time of 12.46.
 
RELAYS
(M) 4x800m: The Knights were represented by AJ Angus, Henry Peterson, Connor Martin, and Gage Heyne. They earned All-Conference honors with a time of 7:36.37 to finish in second place. Additionally, they rank third on the program's top 10 list.
 
(W) 4x800m: The Knights were represented by Hannah Ramsey, Haley Meyer, Isabella Skay, and Marissa Pewe. They earned All-Conference honors with a time of 9:20.60 to place third.
 
2025-26 Wartburg School Records:
Anthony Weaver Jr, 14.71m (48-03.25) – (M) Triple Jump
Haley Meyer, 2:55.24 – (W) 1000m
Lance Sobaski, 4:05.15 – (M) Mile
Isaiah Hammerand, 14:07.41 – (M) 5000m
Grace Braden, 3669 points – Pentathlon
Jimmy Weispfenning, 21.62 – (M) 200m
AJ Wright, 6.74 – (M) 60m
JoJo Tyynismaa, 7.62 – (W) 60m
(Nathan Kinzer, Jordan Cleaves, Nathan Ahern, Lance Sobaski), 9:45.77 – (M) DMR
(Haley Meyer, Hannah Ramsey, Nadia Bowden, Maddie Merna, 11:37.27 – (W) DMR
Lance Sobaski, 8:09.82 – (M) 3000m
Hutton Edney, 1:51.10 – (M) 800m
Isaiah Hammerand, 29:20.48 – (M) 10000m
AJ Wright, 10.42 – (M) 100m
Grace Braden, 4827 points – Heptathlon
(Grace Braden, JoJo Tyynismaa, Ryann Decker, Caitlin Benesh), 58.05 – (W) Shuttle Hurdle
(Weston Johnson, Austin Rindels, Seneca Molstre, Mitchell Darst), 1:00.59 – (M) Shuttle Hurdle
JoJo Tyynismaa, 11.64 - (W) 100m
 
Top 10 Wartburg Women's 100m Dash
1. JoJo Tyynismaa – 2026, 11.64
2. Erica Dynes – 2016, 11.86
3. Libbey Schubert – 2014, 11.92
4. Faith Burt – 2010, 11.95
4. Nevada Morrison – 2010, 11.95
6. Skye Morrison – 2012, 12.06
7. Tashina Mcallister – 2013, 12.11
8. Jenny Kordick – 2010, 12.12
9. Keanna Martin – 2008, 12.14
9. Kelsea Cannon – 2005, 12.14
 
Day One Recap
 
Up Next:
The Knights will compete tomorrow for the final day of the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Pella.