McMartin wins thrice for Dutch at William Penn track meet
OSKALOOSA — Caroline McMartin (sophomore, Pella) showed off some versatility by winning all three events she entered at the William Penn Statesmen Invitational Friday for the Central College women’s track and field team.
No team scores were kept at the meet.
Individually, McMartin improved her career-best mark in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to 11 minutes, 18.13 seconds and also won the 800 meters in 2:29.45. Teammate Elsie Thoreson (sophomore, Pella) was second in the 800 in 2:29.58. McMartin also ran the third led of the winning 4×400-meter relay team that clocked in at 4:18.85.
“Caroline had a four second PR in the steeplechase which was her first race,” coach Brandon Sturman said. “It was a bigger meet than we anticipated and there was good competition. Any time you can win three events, it’s a big deal.”
That 4×400 squad also included Abbi Roerdink (sophomore, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS), Abby Gruver (sophomore, Sully, Lynnville-Sully HS) and Lauren Brown (sophomore, Underwood). Gruver, Roerdink, Thoreson and Rayna Sickels (freshman, Indianola) also won the 4×100-meter relay in 51.37 seconds. Brown was second in the 400 meters (1:01.27) and Sickels was second in the 100 hurdles (15.80).
“The relay times are not where we want them to be,” Sturman said. “When you go to a meet and compete and win it’s always a confidence booster.”
Central swept the top-three spots in the women’s 1500 meters with Addison Parrott (freshman, Danville) leading the way in 5:09.65. Sara Goodenbour (freshman, Cedar Falls) was second in 5:12.89 and Hailey Hill (junior, Las Vegas, Nev., West Career & Technical Academy) was third in 5:14.21.
Cali Coffman (junior, Leawood, Kan., Blue Valley HS) and Amber Vroman (freshman, Seneca, Ill.) shared second place in the pole vault after clearing 9 feet, 0 inches. Allison Van Gorp (freshman, Pella, Pella Christian HS) was third in the shot put in 38-0.
On the men’s side, Nolan Reynolds (junior, Montezuma) paced the field in the 400 meters in 50.39 seconds and Noah Jorgenson (sophomore, Sidney) topped the 800-meter run field in 1:54.52. Reynolds and Jorgenson bookended the winning 4×400-meter relay team that finished in 3:30.93. Carter Tryon (senior, Winterset) and Grant Boyse (junior, Wellman, Mid-Prairie HS) ran the middle two legs.
“We had some bigger goal for their times, but the weather didn’t really cooperate,” Sturman said. “Nolan and Noah both competed well and those times will come.”
Lucas Heitz (junior, Adel, ADM HS) added a 110-meter hurdle championship performance (15.07 seconds), edging teammate Reid Pakkebier’s (freshman, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) time of 15.23 seconds.
Theo Baldus (senior, St. Ansgar) was runner-up in the hammer throw (160-6.5) and third in the discus throw (160-10). Thomas Spoehr (senior, Bennington, Neb.) also was third in the shot put (46-3).
“The competition in the throws was good,” Sturman said. “We’re getting stronger in those events and we’re going to need them later in the season.”
Thatcher Krob (senior, Lisbon) was the runner-up in the 1500 meters (4:06.44) and Alec Stahl (senior, Steamboat Rock, AGWSR HS) tied for second in the pole vault (11-0).
The majority of Central’s roster will be in Indianola Saturday for a triangular with Simpson College and Nebraska Wesleyan University. The decathletes and heptathletes will be in Crete, Nebraska for the Jim Dutcher Classic on Thursday and Friday.
