Miller shatters Central pentathlon mark
Central College
GRINNELL—Central College’s Ethan Miller (junior, Seymour) posted the top pentathlon score of the season in the NCAA Division III, shattering the school record with 3,876 points at the Darren Young Classic indoor track and field meet at Grinnell College Friday.
Teammate Kurtis Brondyke (senior, Clinton) followed with 3,759 points. Both totals topped the automatic qualifying standard for the NCAA Division III meet at Columbus, Ohio March 11-12 and both also bettered the previous school record of 3,736 points set by all-American Peter Wagner in 2003. Breighen Powell (senior, Wellman, Mid-Prairie HS) was eighth with 2,886 points.
In the 10-athlete field Miller was first in the 55-meter hurdles (7.87 seconds), first in the long jump (23 feet, 6.25 inches), third in the shot put (39-0.25), first in the high jump (a career-best 6-8.25) and fourth in the 1,000-meters (2:54.92).
“Ethan had an incredible day,” coach Joe Dunham said. “He just does amazing things every time out.
“And Kurtis is dealing with a lot of injuries but doing a nice job of fighting through them. Anytime you can hit (the automatic standard) that’s impressive. It doesn’t happen that many times in a year across the country. And to do it while you’re injured is pretty remarkable.”
Meanwhile Jill Ziskovsky (senior, Dallas Center, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) topped the provisional qualifying standard in the women’s pentathlon with a personal best of 3,276 points. That ranks fourth in school history. Caitlin Wilson (junior, Oakland, Riverside HS) was second with 2,996 points despite battling illness.
In a field of eight, Ziskovsky was fourth in the 55-meter hurdles (9.09 seconds), fourth in the high jump (4-11.75), third in the shot put (30-1), first in the long jump (17-3.5) and first in the 800 (2:24.05).
“Jill obviously had a great day,” Dunham said. “She didn’t high jump as well as she wanted to, but she turned around and threw the shot really well and did well in everything else.
“Caitlin was sick and didn’t look very good but she competed so hard. It’s a great start for her.
“Everybody Central brought had an excellent day. They came ready to compete and ready to get after it.”
The rest of the Central women’s and men’s squads are at Grinnell for the 10-team Darren Young Classic Saturday.
