Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
GRINNELL, Iowa – After the first day of the 2026 Midwest Conference Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championships, the host Grinnell College Pioneers lead the team standings.
Through six scored events, Grinnell holds first place with 43 points, highlighted by a victory in the 4x200 relay. Its foursome of George Stenberg, Lucas Fadden, Linus O’Brien and Jesse Miller set meet and facility records with a 1:28.47 showing.
Illinois College stands in second place (39 points), while Cornell College is in third (37 points). The Rams were aided by Isaac vanWestrienen’s 14:58.09-winning time in the 5K.
Beloit College is in fourth, sporting 33 points, and the Buccaneers’ Josh Yearby set a meet record in the 60-meter dash prelims with a time of 6.77.
With 26 points, Lawrence University is in fifth place. The Vikings’ foursome of Benjamin Baldwin, Nick Lubin, Tristan Zook and Zach Meyer came in first with a time of 3:33.65.
Monmouth College, in sixth place with 24 points, won the shot put thanks to Blake Orwig (15.36m).
Lake Forest College’s Finn Gruver won the long jump, going 6.80m, as the Foresters are in seventh place with 14 points as a team.
Knox College is in eighth with 12 points, but Lance Miller won the mile and set a new meet record in 4:16.08.
Ripon College rounds out the standings, accumulating 6 points through day one.
The championship meet continues Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m., beginning with field events, while running events start at noon.
Full team standings and event winners from day one are listed below.
| Men’s Team Standings (after day one) |
| 1. Grinnell College – 43 |
| 2. Illinois College – 39 |
| 3. Cornell College – 37 |
| 4. Beloit College – 33 |
| 5. Lawrence University – 26 |
| 6. Monmouth College – 24 |
| 7. Lake Forest College – 14 |
| 8. Knox College – 12 |
| 9. Ripon College – 6 |
| Event |
Men’s |
| Shot Put |
Blake Orwig, Monmouth – 15.36m |
| Long Jump |
Finn Gruver, Lake Forest – 6.80m |
| 5000-Meter |
Isaac vanWestrienen, Cornell – 14:58.09 |
| Sprint Medley Relay |
Lawrence – 3:33.65 |
| Mile |
Lance Miller, Knox – 4:16.08 |
| 4x200 Relay |
Grinnell – 1:28.47 |