Ava Claussen-Tubbs concluded her career at Cornell College with 14 Midwest Conference titles, winning three at a recent event in Mount Vernon. She secured her 1,500 crown with a time of 4:39.56, leading Iowa collegiate distance runners in their last-chance meets.
Key points
Ava Claussen-Tubbs won her 12th, 13th, and 14th Midwest Conference titles.
She won the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:39.56.
The event took place in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
Grinnell College secured the team title with 178 points.
Mentioned in this story
Mount Vernon
Ava Claussen-TubbsGrinnell CollegeMidwest Conference
Ava Claussen-Tubbs will end her career as one of the greatest runners in Cornell College history.
The Anamosa grad captured her 12th, 13th and 14th career Midwest Conference titles at the event hosted on her home track in Mount Vernon from May 8-9.
Claussen-Tubbs leads off this edition of the WEEKEND UPDATE of the best performances by Iowa-based collegiate and post collegiate distance runners and triathletes where most college teams were competing at last-chance meets.
Claussen-Tubbs started her three-peat of titles with the 1,500 crown on May 8. She crossed the finish line in 4 minutes, 39.56 seconds to win by 1.94 seconds over Ripon senior Jenny Cortes. Grinnell senior Cindy Wang, a former Iowa City West runner, scored a point for the Pioneers with an eighth-place effort in a personal-best time of 4:56.41 as Grinnell won the team crown with 178 points.
The Cornell senior then made it a sweep of the outdoor 800 events in her career, taking the title in 2:14.41. Claussen-Tubbs won the faster Section 2 by 3.90 seconds. Half of Claussen-Tubbs' MWC titles have come in the 800 event.
She also competed on the second leg on the Rams' winning 4x400 relay that clocked a time of 4:05.34. Cornell won by 1.54 seconds and ended up third in the team race with 119 points.
Claussen-Tubbs' sophomore teammate Carley Seeley, who prepped at Fairfield High, improved on an eighth-place conference finish in the 3,000 steeplechase by taking third place. Seeley ran a new best of 11:42.48 in a race won in 11:18.92.
Moving to the NSIC meet in Duluth, Minnesota, where Glenwood grad Bryant Keller doubled his career total of league championships to four during an impressive weekend.
The Augustana University sophomore captured the 3,000 steeplechase and 5,000 titles while earning a tie for NSIC High Point Earner at the outdoor event from May 7-9.
Keller was a double conference champion indoors at Mankato, Minnesota, in February. He claimed the 5,000 and 3,000 titles at MSU-Mankato Myers Fieldhouse and hadn't competed since finishing 10th in the Men's Open 5,000 in 14:46.3 at the Drake Relays on April 23.
Last weekend, he led the Vikings men to fourth in the team race with 80 points by scoring a fourth of that total. Keller topped sophomore teammate Isaiah Anderson by 5.84 seconds in the 3,000 steeplechase while running a new personal-best time of 9:13.05.
Q&A
How many Midwest Conference titles did Ava Claussen-Tubbs win?
Ava Claussen-Tubbs won a total of 14 Midwest Conference titles during her career.
What was Ava Claussen-Tubbs' winning time in the 1,500 meters?
Ava Claussen-Tubbs won the 1,500 meters with a time of 4 minutes, 39.56 seconds.
Where was the Midwest Conference event hosted?
The Midwest Conference event was hosted at Cornell College's home track in Mount Vernon.
Which team won the team crown at the recent event?
Grinnell College won the team crown with a total of 178 points.
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On the final day May 9, Keller edged Minnesota State freshman Jack Kendall by 2.24 seconds in the 5,000 final to sweep the NSIC 3,000 and 5,000 track titles for the 2025-26 school year. Keller was timed in 14:45.20.
Senior teammate Brady Hogan, a former Decorah competitor, improved two positions from his NSIC indoor 5,000 finish. Hogan claimed third place in 14:53.05.
Hogan also repeated a runner-up NSIC finish in the 10,000 the previous day. Hogan crossed the finish line in 31:05.81 to trail U-Mary senior Caleb Hansen by 3.18 seconds. Hogan owns eight all-conference finishes in track and field in his career.
Another former Iowa prep, Bryson Canton, picked up all-conference honors in the 800 final. The ex-Cedar Rapids Prairie athlete placed sixth in 1:57.20 in a race won in 1:53.50. Canton had qualified for the final by taking fourth in Heat 2 of the prelims in 1:54.30. Canton also competed in the 1,500 final, taking 12th in 4:03.68. The champion ran 3:55.19.
In the NSIC women's event, Sibley-Ocheyedan product Madison Marco ended up 11th in the 3,000 steeplechase. The Southwest Minnesota State junior was timed in 11:33.63 in a race won in 10:39.56.
Iowa State hosted one of many NCAA qualifying events across the U.S. at the Cyclone Twilight in Ames on May 8.
Taking advantage of good conditions and continuing to improve after her college days is Mallory (King) Lindaman. The former Iowa All-American and Davenport Assumption runner took the victory in the women's 800 in a new best of 2:02.37. Lindaman rolled to a 2.57-second win over Minnesota Distance Elite's Cailee Peterson. MDE's Emilie Meyer, a former standout at Drake University, took fourth in 2:06.52.
Northern Iowa junior Mary Kelly, who prepped at Van Meter, ran 2:12.34 for seventh. Hawkeye junior Lily Johannes, a former Cedar Rapids Prairie competitor, placed eighth in 2:12.86. Northern Iowa freshman Sarah Feddersen ran 2:13.11 for ninth. She ran for Gilbert. Panther freshman Josee Simonson grabbed 12th in 2:13.95. She attended Cedar Falls.
A stacked field competed in the men's 1,500 as the event benefitted from a free weekend before the Big 12, Big Ten and Missouri Valley Conference events.
Former Air Force and Madrid runner Jason Renze, competing unattached, set a new best of 3:45.29 while capturing third overall. Renze is based in Omaha, Nebraska, now. Central College senior Jack Brown, the reigning NCAA indoor champion in Division III, couldn't quite top his outdoor season best in the 1,500. The Norwalk product ran 3:47.48 for fifth. Northern Iowa sophomore Chase Lauman, who ran for Pella High, secured sixth in 3:48.49. Five spots behind him was Simpson College sophomore and Marshalltown grad James Johnson in 3:50.03. Iowa senior Carson Houg ran 3:50.56 for 13th. He is a former Des Moines Christian athlete. Ex-Sioux City North prep Natnael Kifle, now a sophomore at South Dakota, ran 3:55.29 for 17th. Charlie Bennett, a former Ames High competitor now running unattached, claimed 20th in 4:00.11. Iowa sophomore Carson Lane almost nearly cracked 4 minutes while placing 22nd. The Johnston product ran 4:00.79. Iowa State junior Devan Kipyego won in 3:39.53.
Northern Iowa sophomore and ex-Cedar Falls runner Derek Woods set a new best for two laps in 1:48.46 while securing sixth place in the 800. St. Ambrose junior Dylan Grandon, coming off two conference wins at the CCAC meet, set a big new best of 1:49.51 while officially securing his spot at NAIA nationals. The Johnston product from Urbandale grabbed ninth place out of 45 finishers.
Ex-Loras College NCAA 800 champion Mike Jasa, now with the Fitness Sports Distance Project, claimed 11th in 1:50.31. Iowa State redshirt sophomore Tommy Tyynismaa established a new best of 1:50.94 while taking 13th. He prepped at North Tama. Northern Iowa freshman Keegan Steege, another ex-Cedar Falls athlete, ran a new PR of 1:52.05. He was 16th. Ankeny High grad Jake Bosch, now a Panther sophomore, settled for 18th in 1:52.13. Junior teammate Jayden Dickson, who attended Earlham, ran 1:52.93 for 24th. Iowa junior Derek Leicht, a former Dubuque Hempstead runner, was 26th in 1:53.11. Indian Hills Community College's Gabriel Tejada, a Fairfield product, was 28th in 1:53.28. Northern Iowa redshirt senior Chase Knoche, a Calamus-Wheatland grad, was the final Iowan under 1:54. He was 29th in 1:53.61. The event was won in 1:47.05.
Former Cyclone All-American Gable Sieperda, now with the FSDP squad, secured runner-up in the 3,000 steeplechase, his specialty. The former Central Lyon-GLR prep ran 8:44.85 in a race won by sophomore teammate Joash Ruto in 8:31.87. Northern Iowa true freshman Jonas VanDis was next in a new best of 9:27.05. He prepped at Waukee High. Taking fourth was former Dubuque Hempstead athlete Caleb Kass, now a junior at Northern Iowa, in 9:31.64. That is a new PR for him.
Iowa State senior Bella Heikes clocked 4:22.68 in the 1,500 to claim sixth in the final race on her home track. Heikes graduated from Johnston. Iowa junior Clare Kelly ran 4:31.22 for ninth. She ran for Van Meter. Ashlyn Keeney, another Cyclone senior, grabbed 10th in 4:31.75. She is a Iowa City Liberty High product. Panther senior Millie Hill was next to finish in 4:33.05. She prepped at Ankeny Centennial. Hawkeye senior Jalyssa Blazek, a former Turkey Valley (Jackson Junction) athlete, settled for 13th in 4:33.95.
Alta-Aurelia grad Nora Peterson, now a freshman at South Dakota State, was timed in 4:35.38. That is a new PR for her. Northern Iowa sophomore Clare Wright, an ex-Jesup runner, ran 4:42.42 for 19th. Two spots behind her was Northern Iowa junior Liza Schaffer in 4:45.59. She competed for North Polk. Iowa senior and former Iowa City High athlete Rowan Boulter ran a new best of 4:47.41 for 23rd. Drake freshman Gracie Foster, an ex-Indianola prep, also broke 4:50 while taking 24th. Foster established a new best of 4:47.46. Iowa State freshman Mercy Kibet won in 4:15.32.
In the 3,000 steeplechase, Northern Iowa freshman and Dubuque Hempstead grad Evie Henneberry took second in 11:06.07. That is a new best for Henneberry. Junior teammate Brooke O'Brien, another ex-Hempstead competitor, was next to finish in a new PR of 11:32.39. The winner ran 10:58.91.
Switching to the roads, where seven-time Loras College NCAA champion Kassie Parker finished second at the USATF 25K Championships in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on May 9. The Crown Running athlete had to watch as Emma Grace Hurley separated from her and Biruktayit Degefa at the halfway point of the 15.5-mile race. Hurley won in 1:22:51, 43 seconds ahead of Parker, a former Clayton Ridge (Guttenberg) athlete.
Parker, now living in Waverly, was coming off a victory at the 50th Bloomsday race in Spokane, Washington, the previous week. Parker picked up $5,000 for the runner-up effort.
Former Iowa State Big 12 champion Dana Feyen, now with the MDE team based in Minnesota, secured sixth place in 1:27:33. Former Johnston and Grand View University NAIA champion Obsie Birru, now based in Phoenix, ran 1:36:23 for 15th among all women.
In the men's competition, former Cornell College standout Aaron Davidson was 18th in 1:18:28. He is based in Arizona. Former Indian Hills Community College runner Marcus Graham of the FSDP squad took 25th in 1:19:53. He resides in Colorado. Former Iowa State runner Tyler Jermann, now with the MDE team, finished in 1:21:39 for 30th among the men.
In the men's competition, former Cornell College standout Aaron Davidson was 18th in 1:18:28. He is now based in Arizona. Former Indian Hills Community College runner Marcus Graham of the FSDP squad took 25th in 1:19:53. Former Iowa State runner Tyler Jermann, now with the MDE team, finished in 1:21:39 for 30th among the men.
Will return to the roads and trails in a bit, but heading to the Arkansas Twilight meet, where Northwest Missouri State senior Riley Witt notched a new best in the 800 while capturing second place. The St. Ansgar grad gained the provisional NCAA Division II standard with a 1:45.96, which was second to Oklahoma State senior Hafez Mahadi's 1:45.69.
Another best was set in the women's 800 on May 8 in Fayetteville. Arkansas senior Ainsley Erzen, who prepped at Carlisle, was timed in 2:03.80 for third place. Oklahoma State freshman Kadence Huck, a former Nashua-Plainfield athlete, set a new best of 2:06.26 while ending up seventh. Pro Honour Finley won in 2:03.39.
Pleasant Valley product Ani Wedemeyer established two new bests in separate meets. The Johns Hopkins true freshman first took the win at the WCU Last Chance Meet in West Chester, Pennsylvania, on May 8. Wedemeyer ran 2:09.81 for a victory by .73 of a second.
Wedemeyer fared even better at the Widener Final Qualifier in Chester, Pennsylvania, on May 11. She set a Blue Jays freshman record for the 1,500 with a fourth-place finish in 4:26.45. That time ranks her 10th nationally in Division III and is fifth in program history. The winner ran 4:23.22.
Wartburg freshman Nathan Ahern set an impressive program record in just his first season in Waverly. The Crestwood (Cresco) product took the victory at the Wartburg Qualifier in the 800 in 1:50.13, which also was a facility record. That time on May 8 also ranks ninth nationally in Division III. Sophomore teammate Logan Rosas, who competed for Mediapolis, set the No. 5 time in program history with a 1:51.15 clocking for second place. He stands 16th nationally. Next to finish was Knights junior Rylan Martin, an ex-New London athlete, in 1:54.70.
Wartburg senior Lance Sobaski also set a Walston-Hoover Stadium mark with an impressive solo win in the 5,000. The Washington High grad ran 14:07.18 to top sophomore teammate and former Johnston athlete Ben Neville by nearly a minute. Neville ran 15:02.47. Seth Cheney, a former Iowa Central runner and Iowa City West competing unattached, ran a new best of 15:04.57 for third place.
The facility records continued in the 10,000, where Ankeny Centennial runner AJ Schermerhorn was timed in 30:26.93. The redshirt freshman's time toppled the previous Walston-Hoover mark. He bested senior and former Center Point-Urbana prep Eli Larson by nearly 20 seconds. Larson ran 30:47.14. Schermerhorn's brother, senior Tyler Schermerhorn, ran 31:29.47 for fourth. The top five was rounded out by sophomore Caden Kueker, who prepped at Waverly-Shell Rock, in 32:34.63.
Wartburg senior Haley Meyer, in her final competitive tour at home, set a new best while winning the 800. The Kee (Lansing) grad ran 2:09.74, which is No. 4 in program history, while topping the field by 3.14 seconds. Meyer's time is seventh best nationally. Knights junior Hannah Ramsey, a former Liberty High competitor, snagged third in 2:14.03.