Simpson Twilight Open to be renamed Kip Janvrin Open (0)

Simpson College (Iowa, USA) has announced the Apr.28 Simpson Twilight Open has been renamed in honor of former Simpson athlete Kip Janvrin. The meet, which is traditionally run on the last Friday of April, will now be known as the Kip Janvrin Open.

"It is a great honor and I appreciate the (Simpson) administration for keeping my name alive," Janvrin said. "I hope some of the athletes who compete in the meet will figure out who I am and it helps motivate them to greater success."

Janvrin, a 1988 Simpson College graduate, is one of the most acclaimed performers in the history of NCAA Division III track and field. Janvrin dominated the decathlon, winning the national title in three consecutive years (1986-88).

Upon his graduation, Janvrin made his mark on the national and international track scene. Janvrin has won the Drake Relays decathlon a record 15 times, setting the event record with 8198 points in 1996. He rallied from 13th place after day one of the 2000 Olympic Trials to finish third and earn a ticket to Sydney. Janvrin was the decathlon alternate for the United States in the 1996 Olympics. He was eighth in the decathlon at the 1992 Olympic Trials and 12th at the 2004 Olympic Trials.

Janvrin is the world record holder for the masters (40+age) decathlon (2005) and the world record holder for the double decathlon (2002). He has won a world best 40 decathlons and has posted a world best 78 scores over 7000 points. Janvrin is the American record holder for most 8000 point decathlon scores with 26. His highest point total in the decathlon (8462) is the seventh best in USA.

Janvrin is a member of the Iowa Track Coaches Hall of Fame, the Drake Relays Hall of Fame, the Simpson College Athletic Hall of Fame, the Division III Track Hall of Fame, and the Missouri Track/Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame.