Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
 
MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – After the first day of the 2026 Midwest Conference Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the campus of Cornell College, the Illinois College Blueboys lead the team standings.
 
Through six scored events, IC is in first place with 43 points. The Blueboys got a first-place finish in the hammer from Melvin Hodge, who set a new conference meet record with a 58.89m showing.
 
In second place is Lawrence University, as the Vikings have totaled 42 points. Monmouth College is in third place (38) and was aided by Kaden Foglesong’s pole vault victory (4.10m).
 
Isaac vanWestrienen was a double winner for Cornell on Friday, who sits in fourth place with 34 points. vanWestrienen set a meet record in the 1500 (3:52.12) and also won the 10K (31:18.34).
 
Grinnell College is in fifth place (29 points), while Beloit College (24) and Lake Forest College (11 points) are in sixth and seventh, respectively. Beloit’s Joshua Martinez Marte won the discus (49.50m) and Lake Forests’ Finn Gruver was the long jump champion (6.76m).
 
Ripon College and Knox College round out the standings, as the Red Hawks have 8 points and the Prairie Fire have 5.
 
The championship meet continues Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m., beginning with field events, while running events start at 12:15 p.m.
 
Full team standings and event winners from day one are listed below.
 

Men’s Team Standings (after day one)

1. Illinois College – 43

2. Lawrence University – 42

3. Monmouth College – 38

4. Cornell College – 34

5. Grinnell College – 29

6. Beloit College – 24

7. Lake Forest College – 11

8. Ripon College – 8

9. Knox College – 5

 

Event	Men’s
Hammer	Melvin Hodge, Illinois College - 58.89m
Discus	Joshua Martinez Marte, Beloit - 49.50m
Long Jump	Finn Gruver, Lake Forest - 6.76m
Pole Vault	Kaden Foglesong, Monmouth - 4.10m
10000m	Isaac vanWestrienen, Cornell - 31:18.34
1500m	Isaac vanWestrienen, Cornell - 3:52.12