WAVERLY — Competing as a full team for the first time this spring, the Central College men's and women's track and field teams were both third at the Wartburg Select meet Saturday.
Wartburg swept the team titles, scoring 184 points in the men's standings and 245 in the women's standings. Central's men had 104 points while the women had 88.
The women's 4x400-meter relay team of Lizzy Van Utrecht (freshman, Ottumwa, Eddville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS), Ava Parkins (freshman, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame [Iowa] HS).  Emily McMartin (sophomore, Pella) and Abbi Roerdink (senior, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS) won in 3:53.63
"They ran phenomenal," Sturman said. "They basically ran by themselves because no one else was able to stay with them."
Roerdink, McMartin and Parkins were joined by Mary Gustason (sophomore, Marion, Linn-Mar HS) in the 4x100-meter relay to finish third in 48.76 seconds. In the 200-meter dash, McMartin was second in 25.29 seconds and Roerdink was third in 25.47 seconds.
Cracking the program's top-10 list, Olivia Bohlen (sophomore, Belle Plaine) won the 100-meter hurdles race in 15.06 seconds.
"She ran amazing in the hurdles," Sturman said.
The Dutch women were strong in the 1,500 meters, led by Megan Johnson's (senior, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS) winning time of 4:33.63. Caroline McMartin (senior, Pella) was third in 4:36.87 and Peyton Steffen (sophomore Marion) was fourth in 4:38.00.
"It doesn't matter what distance Megan's running right now; she's going to run fast" "She's so strong and fit right now."
Brian Hart (junior, Norwalk), Noah Erickson (senior, Mount Vernon), JD Elefson (sophomore, Ankeny, North Polk HS) and Kaleb Brand (senior, Mount Vernon) won the men's 4x400-meter relay race in 3:20.55. Brand was also fourth in the 200-meter dash in 22.43 seconds.
"That's a great time," Sturman "It might not win a conference title or get us into nationals, but it is great for where we are at in the year."
In the men's 110-meter hurdles, Central had a trio of top-three finishers, led by Reid Pakkebier's  (junior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) third-place finish. Grant Miller (sophomore, Norwalk) was fourth (14.75 seconds) and Gunner Meyer (sophomore, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) was fifth (14.95 seconds).
"We had eight guys entered and five made the finals," Sturman said. "They all ran PRs, which is also very exciting."
Central also had a heavy presence in the men's pole vault. Gage Huyser (sophomore, Pella) was second after clearing 13-3.75. Alex Miller (junior, Aurora, Ill., Waubonsie Valley HS) and Gavin Smith (sophomore, Audubon) were third and fourth after clearing 12-10. Kale Hobart (freshman, Mason City) was fifth at 12-4. Hobart was also third in the 400-meter hurdles (55.62 seconds).
"The men's pole vault went very well," Sturman said. "Especially for being the second meet of the year and the bad weather conditions."
Other top-five finishers for Central included Amber Vroman (junior, Seneca, Ill.) in the women's pole vault (second, 10-0), Noah Jorgenson (senior, Sidney) in the men's 1500 meters (second, 3:52.21), Kale Purcell (junior, Holton, Kan.) in the men's triple jump (second, 44-11.75), JT LaFleur (sophomore, Bondurant, Iowa/home schooled) in the men's javelin throw (fifth, 141-7)
The Dutch will spread out to multiple meets next weekend. A small group of distance runners will fly to the Bryan Clay Invitational hosted by Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Central will also have entries at the Jim Duncan Invitational hosted by Drake University on Friday.
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