Pioneers have power: students break records

Tucked away in a corner on the first floor of the fitness center, an unassuming board hangs with the names of Grinnellians who have collectively broken 16 different athletic records. Many of the names are of alumni, but some record holders still walk among us. The Pioneer Power Record Board remains a bit of a mystery, though, even to Grinnellians who have broken a record and have their name listed. 

Millie Leonard `27, for one, didn’t even think the board was up to date after it took a year for her first-place women’s vertical jump record to be listed. She broke the record in her first year during the beginning of her volleyball season. 

Millie Leonard `27, on the volleyball and track team, holds a record for the vertical jump. (Meilynn Smith)

“I didn’t even know the board was still up and running,” Leonard said, who didn’t see her name listed until sometime this past September. “I don’t think it’s talked about very much, the record board.”

Xavier James `25 also said he wasn’t sure he broke his fourth-place 300-yard shuttle record until Spring 2024. James broke the record back in May 2023, but was abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark during the following fall semester. 

“I didn’t really know until I got back last semester,” James said of his record. “I mean, I think I knew, based on the times, where my standing was.”

Both James and Leonard, though, aren’t satisfied with just the one record. Both said they’re looking to hopefully improve on their already established record this academic year. 

“This year, I’m going to try [to beat my record] with cleats to maybe get the number one spot,” James said. Look out, Yuki Kawahara `15. 

Xavier James `25, on the track team, holds a record for the 300 yard shuttle. (Meilynn Smith)

Likewise, Leonard, who calls herself a very competitive person, hopes to break her own number one spot in the vertical jump. Her current record stands at 29 inches. “I know I can do a lot better than that,” she said. “I want to see improvement in myself, and that I’m not just staying the same all of the years through college.”

Jeff Pedersen, head track and field coach, was the one who tested James back in May 2023. Pedersen wrote in an email to The S&B that he offers opportunities for his team to test during finals week, after the track and field season is over. 

According to Pedersen, it is usually the head strength and conditioning coach’s role to test students. Pedersen wrote that he also used to serve in that role 15 years ago.

During his time in this role, Pedersen wrote in an email to The S&B that he offered opportunities for students to get on the record board during the first and last week of every semester. 

“This opportunity was available to all students, they just needed to schedule a time with me,” Pedersen wrote.

Contributed by Poweshiek History Preservation Project from Drake Community Library. Photo of the old Physical Education Complex (PEC).

Pedersen also added that the record board goes back to the days of the old Physical Education Complex, which housed an indoor track, a pool and several sporting courts. When the College built the current Charles Benson Bear `39 Recreation and Athletic Center, the board was moved to its current location in the Bear, Pedersen wrote.

For students looking to etch their own names on the board this year, they may be in luck. The College has just hired this past November a new full-time head strength and conditioning coach, Steve Lewis, after a nationwide search.