Under first-year co-head coaches Patrick Irwin and Dan Zierfuss, the Knox College indoor track and field team set three school records this season. Adam Kent broke the weight throw record and Tim Rairdon set the 800-meter run mark, while the men's sprint medley relay record was also toppled.

Kent and Rairdon set their marks at home in the T. Fleming Fieldhouse during the Knox Invitational on Saturday, February 16.

Kent, a sophomore from Lake Stevens, Washington (Lake Stevens High School), had been inching towards the weight throw mark for weeks before finally claiming the record with a fourth-place effort of 50' 5.5". His mark bettered the previous school record of 49' 10" set by Steven Robertson in 1999. It also was two feet better than his previous career best effort of 48' 5.5" set at the Illinois College Blue Classic just one week earlier.

"Setting the record at home was great," said Kent. "Getting the record was basically my goal. Before I came to Knox, I wanted to get 60 feet, but I guess that can come later."

Later that afternoon, it was Rairdon's time to leave his mark in the Knox record book. The senior from St. Charles, Illinois (St. Charles East High School) took advantage of the opportunity. He crossed the finish line of the 800-meter run in a second-place time of 1:59.36 to break the previous mark of 1:59.66 set by Erik DeLapp last year.

"When I found out that Adam had already set a record, it boosted the momentum," said Rairdon. "But setting a school record wasn't my dominant goal. My goal was to just run fast."

Rairdon challenged his own mark at the 2008 Midwest Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, but settled for a time of 1:59.41, good for third place and all-conference recognition.

However, Rairdon was part of a school record-breaking performance at the conference meet. The senior anchored the 1600-meter sprint medley relay team, which set a Knox school record with a time of 3:42.65. The 1600-meter sprint medley is composed of a pair of 200-meter legs, followed by a 400-meter leg, and an 800-meter leg. Mike Kizior, Dan Kizior, and Brett Daley ran the first three legs before Rairdon finished with the 800-meter run. The group beat the previous school record of 3:43.55 set in 2006.

"The relay record was a lot of fun because it was a team effort," said Rairdon. "Everyone got to take part in that one."

The co-head coaches were definitely pleased with the records and the overall results.

"As a first-year head coach, coming in and setting three new school records is very rewarding because it shows that our athletes are extremely talented, and will continue to achieve success as they improve in their careers here at Knox," said Zierfuss, who is mainly responsible for the throwing events. "It means a lot to a new program to have that kind of success as well, because it shows that what we are doing is working. If we keep working together as a team, we will continue to break records each year. I think that our athletes are hungry for success, and they are going to pursue additional records as the outdoor season begins."

Irwin, who primarily coaches the runners, echoed those sentiments.

"It speaks volumes to the new direction this program is headed, and shows the athletes' willingness to be open to a new system," said Irwin. "It can be difficult adjusting to a new style, but our athletes have responded well and are starting to be rewarded for their efforts."

Now the focus turns to the outdoor track and field season. The Prairie Fire will open by hosting the Midwest Small College Invitational on Saturday, April 5, on Turner Track at Trevor Field.