Renewed depth yields excitement for Central’s men’s track and field program

PELLA- The talent was there last year and know the depth has caught up for the Central College men’s track and field team heading into 2024.

The Dutch men maintained its presence at the national level last year, sending three to the championship meet indoors and finishing tied for 20th. They followed that up with six qualifiers and a top-40 finish outdoors. It was the fifth-place finishes at the two conference championships meets that coach Brandon Sturman said has been addressing in the offseason.

“We’re pretty excited about the men’s season,” he said. “We had some talented individuals do special things at the national level. But from a conference standpoint, the season didn’t go the way we wanted as a whole. I just don’t think we had depth in certain areas but this year I think we’ll be able to fill some of those holes.”

The roster size is up to 59 student-athletes but includes just 18 returning varsity letterwinners.

“I’m hoping we can get back to the top three at the conference meets,” Sturman said. “We’ve got some young talent so we’ll see what they can do.

The indoor season started with the Dutch Holiday preview in December and ends with the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 8-9 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The outdoor season begins with the Central Invitational on March 28 and ends at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships May 23-25 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The indoor American Rivers Conference Championships are in Dubuque on February 23-24 and the outdoor league meet is in Lincoln, Nebraska May 9-11.

Distance and middle distance
Central’s men’s distance crew was a staple at the NCAA Division III Championships in 2023. Adam Sylvia (fifth year, Rochester, Mass., Old Rochester HS) was an individual qualifier to the indoor national meet in the mile. He returned outdoors in the 1500 meters and was joined by Noah Jorgenson (senior, Sidney) in the 800 meters and Caleb Silver (fifth year, Conrad, BCLUW HS) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Those three headlined the cross country team’s national appearance, where the Dutch finished 15th. Silver and Jorgenson were All-Americans in both competitions.

“Our strength right now is on the distance side,” Sturman said. “We had a heck of a cross country season and a lot of those guys will be transitioning to track and we’re looking for some big things from them.

“Noah started the year off strong at the two December meets and is in the middle of a huge senior year. Caleb is in the best shape he’s been in to start an indoor season.”

In their quest to continue to continue their stellar year, those three are likely to be among the contingent of athletes headed to the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston, one of the fastest tracks in the country.

“The trip they’ll take to Boston in February will be a big meet for them,” Sturman said. “It can really set them apart, for the indoor season especially.”

Three juniors in the distance program, Ben DeValk (Solon), Derek Webster (Norwalk) and Austin Smith (junior, Olathe, Kan., South HS), chose to study abroad which sets the stage for a greater role for some freshmen. Jack Brown (Norwalk), Mason Back (Winterset), William Wadsley (Gilbert) and Donovan Card (Norwalk) are leading the pack of newcomers. Card won’t join the team until after his wrestling season ends.

“Coach Dunham calls them the four horsemen,” Sturman said. “They can step up and really help us.”

Jack Orengo (fifth year, Naperville, Ill., Neuqua Valley HS) and Randy Jimenez (junior, Liberty Center, Southeast Warren HS) are also returning varsity letterwinners in the distance events.

Multi-events
The extremely successful run of the men’s multi-events crew continued in 202, sending a pair of national qualifiers to the indoor national meet (heptathlon) and outdoor national meet (decathlon). Brody Klein (senior, Rainier, Wash.) was an All-American in the decathlon but an injury sustained during the Dutch football season will derail most if not all of his senior season.

“It’s frustrating for him and for us that he can’t compete,” Sturman said. “But he’s going to take on more of a coaching role and is such a good leader and has a lot of knowledge that he can still help us.”

Reid Pakkebier (junior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) is a two-time national qualifier in the decathlon and was the conference runner-up in 2023. Jax Thompson (senior, Marion, Linn-Mar HS) dealt with injury issues in 2023 but was also a national qualifier in 2022.

Sophomores Gage Huyser (Pella), Grant Miller (Norwalk) and Gavin Smith (Audubon) are ready to take a step forward after learning the ropes last year.

“Last year was a learning curve for them,” Sturman said. “They were just figuring it out and now they have to take some strides and try to be contenders for us.”

Hurdles
The hurdles have been an area of growth for the Dutch men over the last few years and they are as deep as they’ve been in recent memory. Connor Miklos (senior, Lockport, Ill., Providence Catholic HS) has been key to that rejuvenation.

“He’s been a dark horse every year,” Sturman said. “He just keeps getting better and better.”

The multi-event athletes will be key in the hurdles as well, especially Miller and Pakkebier in the 60-meter hurdles (indoors) and 110-meter hurdles (outdoors). Smith, as well as Lawsen Fuller (sophomore, Roseville, Rosemont HS) and Tanner Fry (junior, Osceola, Clarke HS) are the top returning options in the 400-meter hurdles outdoors.

Transfer Gunner Meyer (sophomore, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) arrived in August and figures into the mix as well.

“He was a really talented individual in high school,” Sturman said. “He’s been getting back into form.”

Freshman Zeke Nelson (Clear Lake) placed at the Iowa High School State Championships as a senior and gives Central even more options.

“Our men’s hurdle crew is very deep,” Sturman said. “We have six to even guys that could score at the conference meet. It’s also one of the strongest events in our conference with multiple returning All-Americans from other schools.

Jumps
Kale Purcell (junior, Holton, Kan.) is poised for another big year in the triple jump and will also work towards contributing in the long jump. Purcell has already cracked the program’s top-10 list for triple jump indoors and outdoors.

“Kale has his sights set high,” Sturman said. “The national meet is attainable for him.” Pakkebier had the program’s best long jump last year outdoors and is capable of scoring in that event as well. Newcomers Liam Kelso (freshman, Indianola) and Owen Tomko (freshman, Costa Mesa, Calif., Fountain Valley HS) are key addition as well as according to Sturman.

Nolan Meyer (sophomore, Bondurant, Bondurant-Farrar HS) is the top returning high jumper for Central but Gunner Meyer has also shown promise in that event as well. The multi-event athletes will be options here as well.

Pole vault is yet another area the multi-event athletes will contribute but that group also includes full-time pole vaulters TJ DiSessa (sophomore, LaGrange, Ill., Lyons Township HS) and Alex Miller (junior, Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS).

“With Coach Aaron (Fuller) focusing on pole vault a little bit more, I’m looking forward to see how they progress,” Sturman said.

Sprints
Jackson Moats (Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley HS) is the veteran presence for Central as the only four-year senior in the mix.

Seniors Kaleb Brand (senior, Mount Vernon) and Noah Erickson (senior, Mount Vernon) both joined the program last year and made an immediate impact in the 400-meter races.

“We’ll be excited to Kaleb back after basketball,” Sturman said. “Noah has shown a lot of development in his second year with us.

Central’s depth increased when J.D. Elefson (junior, Ankeny, North Polk HS) came back after a year off to focus on baseball.

Brian Hart (junior, Norwalk) gives Central a fifth returning varsity letterwinner.

Throws
Cory Fairbanks (junior, Marion), Corbin Sodergren (sophomore, Norwalk) and Tommy Morlan (Tiffin, Clear Creek-Amana HS) are the only returners in a very young group of throwers. Four newcomers, including transfer JT LaFleur (sophomore, Bondurant) from Faith Baptist Bible College, will bolster the group.

“We have some numbers,” Sturman said. “But we’re just young and still developing with a lot of freshmen and sophomores in that group. There are some pretty strong athletes, but they are just raw. Coach Walz will have to be patient with them and do what he does.”