NAPERVILLE — The opening month of the indoor season has produced a strong collection of nationally-ranked performances across the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW), with student-athletes from multiple programs establishing early championship credentials. 
 
From record-breaking sprint efforts and nationally elite distance depth to power performances in the throws and competitive balance across the jumps and relays, January results have begun to shape the conference landscape. 
 
This week’s notebook highlights early event leaders, notable performances across the league, and a busy upcoming weekend as teams continue to position themselves for the heart of the indoor schedule.
 
Sprinters Set the Early Pace
Short sprint performances have highlighted the early portion of the indoor season, with several CCIW student-athletes posting times that rank among the best in NCAA Division III. North Central senior Randy Reed opened his final campaign by setting a school record in the 300 meters, clocking 34.53 on Dec. 12 at the Blue Demon Holiday Invite. Reed followed with a 6.88 effort in the 60 meters at the Pat Heenan Invite last Saturday, tying for the conference lead.
 
Augustana’s Tyreke Fortney matched Reed’s 6.88 on the same day at the Bumble Rumble, setting up a tight early race atop the conference sprint leaderboard. Carthage freshman Landon Voye made an immediate impact in his collegiate debut on Dec. 6 at the Forever Red Alumni Classic, breaking a 13-year-old school record in the 200 meters with a time of 22.21. Converted for track size, Voye’s 200-meter mark (21.82) and his 55-meter victory (6.46, converted to 6.95 for 60 meters) rank among the conference’s best and sit 17th nationally. 
 
North Central’s Alexander Knight added a 6.93 in the 60 meters at the Cardinal Opener on Jan. 9, ranking fourth in program history and third in the CCIW.
 
Distance Depth on Display
The CCIW distance group has been one of the deepest units in Division III, particularly in the 5,000 meters. North Central’s BJ Sorg recorded a career-best indoor performance of 14:15.43 at the Frigid Bee Opener on Dec. 6, a time that currently ranks fourth nationally. Teammate Jacob Kluckhohn also posted a personal best of 14:55.90 at the same meet.
 
Carthage senior Jacob Curulewski joined the national leaderboard on Dec. 5 at the GVSU Holiday Open, breaking the program record in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:44.77, which ranks 19th nationally. North Central continued to showcase its depth at the Pat Heenan Invite last Saturday, as Oscar Frontjes (14:48.21) and Kluckhohn (14:53.23) both recorded personal bests to move into 14th and 17th place, respectively, on the national qualifying list.
 
In the mile, Carthage’s Harlan Matson posted a conference-leading converted time of 4:26.56 with a victory at the Firebird First on last Saturday. Illinois Wesleyan’s Zach Marquardt has also been consistent in the event, winning the mile at both the Titan First Chance on Dec. 5 and the Coach Shoe Invitational last Saturday.
 
Quarter-Mile Leaders and Relay Battles
The 400 meters and relay events have featured multiple nationally-ranked performances. Carthage junior Dylan Parker delivered one of the top quarter-mile runs of the season at the Firebird First last Saturday, winning in 49.17 seconds. His converted time of 48.40 leads the conference and ranks 11th in Division III. Illinois Wesleyan senior Evan Lowder has remained close behind, running 49.34 at the Titan First Chance on Dec. 5, a mark that ranks 14th nationally. 
 
Relay competition has also tightened, with Illinois Wesleyan posting the conference’s fastest 4x400 time of the season (3:29.14) last Saturday with the quartet of Dylan Hodges, Noah Sadowski, Alex Maas, and Carson Green. Augustana followed with a 3:30.33 performance at the Bumble Rumble on the same day.
 
Earlier in the season, Carroll opened December with a victory in the 4x400 at the Ripon Winter Open, clocking 3:34.99 behind Brian Smith, Matthew Konieczny, Connor Tector and Patrick Signore.
 
Throwing Events Feature National Contenders
The throwing events have produced several nationally-ranked marks, led by Carthage senior Tyler Rose. Rose currently leads the conference in both the shot put and weight throw after recording personal bests of 16.37 meters and 18.95 meters, respectively, at the Firebird First last Saturday. His performances rank 14th nationally in the shot put and third in the weight throw.
 
Augustana’s Magnus Wells has also emerged as a national contender, winning the weight throw at the Bumble Rumble last weekend with a mark of 17.60 meters, ranking 14th nationally. Teammate Landon Wierenga followed closely with a 17.51-meter throw, placing him 19th in Division III.
 
North Central’s Ben Balboa claimed the top collegiate finish in the shot put at the Pat Heenan Invite with a toss of 15.95 meters. Millikin’s Hunter Danberry recorded the third-best weight throw in program history on Dec. 5, reaching 15.69 meters.
 
Jumps Provide Consistent Scoring
The jumps have supplied steady points and nationally-ranked marks across the conference. Carthage freshman Hayden Rollins set a school record in the pole vault on Dec. 6 by clearing 4.75 meters, a height that ranks eighth nationally. In the triple jump, North Central junior Jayden Leise claimed the Pat Heenan Invite title last Saturday with a mark of 14.34 meters, ranking 19th nationally.
 
Carthage’s Camron Foster and Kedrick Johnson III posted early conference-leading marks of 14.15 and 14.01 meters, respectively, on Dec. 6. In the high jump, North Central’s Cole Oleson cleared 1.99 meters on Jan. 9 to take the conference lead, while Carthage’s Euphrates Willis and Jack Tilton both cleared 1.95 meters on Dec. 6. Augustana’s Caden Eller added a 1.89-meter clearance to finish second at the Bumble Rumble.
 
Hurdles and Multi-Event Performances
Augustana and North Central have set the pace in the 60-meter hurdles. Augustana junior AJ Banks leads the conference with an 8.41 performance from the Bumble Rumble last Saturday, where the Vikings placed four athletes among the top five. North Central’s Kamil Kokot won the Pat Heenan Invite on the same day in 8.46 seconds.
 
North Central advanced five athletes to the hurdle finals at the Heenan Invite, including Matthew Vergamini (8.63) and Travis Hoffman (8.64). Illinois Wesleyan’s Kamden Reynolds won the event at the Titan First Chance on Dec. 5 in 8.63 seconds. 
 
In the multi-events, Elmhurst’s Jaedon Thompson placed sixth in the heptathlon at the UW-Oshkosh Early Bird on Dec. 6 with 4,218 points.
 
Looking Ahead
The indoor schedule continues with a full slate of competition this weekend. Carthage will compete at the Red Hawk Opener in Ripon on Friday. On Saturday, North Central, Elmhurst, North Park and Illinois Wesleyan travel to Chicago for the Aurora Grand Prix at Gately Indoor Track.
 
Carroll will compete at the Karl Schlender Invitational in Whitewater, Millikin heads to the IC Snow Bird Invite in Jacksonville and Augustana returns to action at the Hilltop Invitational in Mount Vernon, Iowa.