Cornell’s men broke two meet records and reset one school record Friday, fueling the Rams into first place of the team race after Day 1 at the Midwest Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships inside the Willmore Center.
The Rams head the nine-team field with 45 points through six scored events. Host Ripon (43) and Monmouth (40.5) are close behind entering Saturday’s final day, which begins at 10:30 a.m.
Sophomore Isaac vanWestrienen was crowned champion in the 5000-meter run, coasting to an eight-second victory over Grinnell’s Brian Goodell in 14:46.85. He broke the meet record of 4:48.98, set by Josh Janusiak of Lawrence in 2018.
Less than two hours later, VanWestrienen ran under the Championships record in the mile, although took runner-up to Knox’s Lance Miller in a near photo finish. VanWestrienen crossed in 4:16.44, Miller in 4:16.39.
Junior Gabe Soda was also in the midst of the mile battle, earning an all-MWC third-place showing in 4:16.80. Teammate Fisher Isaacson was fifth (4:18.77), giving the Rams 18 teams points in the race.
The Rams were golden in the sprint medley relay, smashing their school record from only 13 days ago by five seconds. Junior Isaak Hutchings anchored the winning quartet of freshman Hadley Beaty, senior Doniel Greiner and sophomore Jaxin McGuire in 3:34.18.
Beaty posted a fifth place in the long jump (21-9). The 4×200 relay of Beaty, Greiner, Gavin Soukup and McGuire finished sixth in 1:32.18.