ALLENDALE/KENOSHA - The Carthage men's track & field team opened the 2025-26 indoor season with a pair of meets on Friday and Saturday. The weekend opened with senior Jacob Curulewski claiming another Carthage school record at the Holiday Open hosted by Grand Valley State. The Firebirds then hosted the Forever Red Alumni Classic on Saturday, where the team opened the season with a victory and another pair of school records.

1. Carthage - 155
2. Parkside - 117
3. Lake Forest - 45
4. Wheaton (Ill.) - 41
5. North Park - 32
6. Judson - 23
7. Carthage Alumni - 18
8. Atk - 12
9. CARA Racing Team - 10
10.  Rust Track Club - 2
11. Greater Milwaukee TC - 1

SPRINTS

Landon Voye won the 200-meter dash for the Firebirds, breaking the school record with a time of 22.21 seconds. The previous record of 22.37 seconds was set by Aryan Avant in 2012. 

Voye also won the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.46 seconds. Christopher Seals placed seventh in 23.88 seconds.

Dylan Parker won the 400 meter with a time of 49.50 seconds. 

The 4x400-meter relay team, which featured Layne Rund, Kade Jaros, Kayden Page, and Eli Fredrickson placed second in a combined time of 3:34.52.

Jaros placed seventh in the 300-meter dash with a time of 38.76 seconds.

DISTANCE

At the GVSU Holiday Open, Curulewski broke the school record in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:44.77. The previous record of 14:52.57 was set by Logan Engberg in 2019. 

The Firebirds swept the top five spots in the 3,000 meter race, with Tom Johnston leading the way with a time of 8:59.14. Johnston was followed by Joe Johnston (9:21.43), Andrew Schaer (9:27.50), Luke Davey (9:37.79), and Ryan Ciezczak (9:47.31).

LJ Higgs placed second in the mile with a time of 4:31.71, while AJ Ripper placed seventh in 4:47.88.

Robert Carroll placed fifth in the 800m with a personal best time of 2:13.81.

JUMPS

Hayden Rollins won the pole vault while claiming the Carthage school record in the event with a mark of 4.75 meters. The previous record of 4.70m was set by Calvin Callahan in 2014.

Camron Foster placed second in the triple jump with a season opening mark of 14.15m. Kedrick Johnson III placed third at 14.01m.

Euphrates Willis and Jack Tilton tied for third place in the high jump, clearing a mark of 1.95m. Rund placed eighth at 1.75m.

THROWS

Tyler Rose won the shot put with a personal best mark of 15.94m. Roy Jones placed fourth at 12.63m, while Aldo Crema (12.59m) and Elliott Podratz (12.07m) finished in fifth and sixth place respectively. 

Rose also won the weight throw with a personal best mark of 18.92m, while Caleb Haas-Rock placed second with a personal best throw of 15.61m.

• Rose ranks third in NCAA Division III in the weight throw (18.92m) and 13th in the shot put (15.94m). Rose leads the CCIW in both events.
• Rollins ranks fourth in the country in the pole vault after his record breaking performance of 4.75m, while also having the top mark in the CCIW.
• Curulewski ranks 16th in NCAA Division III in the 5,000m (14:44.77), while second in the CCIW in the event.
• Voye ranks 12th in the nation at the Division III level in the 200m (21.82 #). Voye leads the CCIW in the event, as well as the 60m dash (6.95 (55m)).
• Parker ranks 11th in NCAA Division III in the 400m (48.73 #). Parker also ranks second in the CCIW in the event.
• Higgs leads the CCIW in the mile at 4:28.29 #, while Ripper ranks fourth at 4:44.26 #.
• T. Johnston leads the CCIW in the 3,000m at 8:52.94 #. J. Johnston ranks fifth at 9:14.98 #.
• Foster and Johnson III hold the top two marks in the conference in the Triple Jump. 13th and 16th respectively nationally. 
• Willis and Tilton currently have the highest mark in the CCIW in the high jump and tied for 21st nationally. 

# - NCAA conversion



"Our coaching staff has been excited all fall about the infusion of energy and talent from this year's recruiting class," said Head Coach Josh Henry. "Despite that, this opening weekend far surpassed our expectations. Three school records to start the season is incredibly impressive. Two of those records coming from athletes in their first ever collegiate meet is next level. On top of the record setting performances, we also saw 11 performances that currently rank in the top 20 nationally. Five of those performances came from freshmen in their first meet. This was a great way to close the semester after a lot of great work this fall. The next test for the team will be maintaining focus over the winter break and putting in quality work away from campus.  This meet should provide a lot of fuel for us to stay focused over the holidays and carry this momentum into the new year."



Carthage men's track & field returns to action in 2026 as the Firebirds will host the Firebird First on Jan. 17 in the Tarble Athletic & Recreation Center. For more information, visit athletics.carthage.edu.