Dutch track and field teams climb in national rankings

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – In the first USTFCCCA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Team Rating Index of the year, the Central College men’s and women’s track and field squads are off to a strong start.

Central is No. 9 on the men’s list and No. 12 on the women’s list.

Points in the National Team Rating Index are based off placement in the National Descending Order Lists. The higher an athlete sits on the list, the more points he or she adds to his or her team’s total. These points do not reflect placement or scoring at the NCAA Championships but are to show the individuals and teams that have the best chances at scoring well at said meet.

The two Dutch rosters have 19 entries in the top 50 nationally with seven of them in the top 10.

Men’s distance runner Noah Jorgenson (senior, Sidney) is second in the 800 meters (1:51.25) and mile (4:02.09) while Adam Sylvia (fifth year, Rochester, Mass., Old Rochester HS) is third in the mile (4:03.37)

Women’s pentathlete Olivia Bohlen (sophomore, Belle Plaine) is fourth with a total of 3,265 points. Distance runner Caroline McMartin (senior, Pella) is fifth in the mile (4:57.40) and seventh in the 5000 meters (16:51.16). Megan Johnson (senior, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS) is sixth in the mile (4:57.97) and eighth in the 5000 meters (16:53.73).

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh leads the men’s ranking and Washington University-St. Louis (Mo.) tops the women’s list.

Central is one of four teams from the American Rivers Conference to crack the men’s top-25 and one of three on the women’s side.

Central hosts the Dutch Winter Multi-Meet on Thursday and Friday in Pella. Most of the team will travel to the Grinnell Invitational Saturday.