Records fall for Central women at Wartburg Select
Central College
WAVERLY — A record-breaking day for the Central College track and field teams continued with three additional records being set as the women took fourth and the men fifth in the team standings at the Wartburg Select.
Competing at less than full-strength the men’s team finished in fifth place with 86 points. The host Wartburg won the crown with 197 points. On the women’s side, Central scored 67 points to take fourth. Wisconsin-LaCrosse ran away with the team title, scoring 229 points.
Three school records fall for women’s squad – Saturday saw three women’s track and field records fall as the Dutch finished in fourth.
Abi Davis (junior, West Des Moines, Iowa, Dowling HS), Allie McBroom (junior, Runnells, Iowa, Southeast Polk HS) and Lorell Stuht (sophomore, Loveland, Colo.) all found their way onto Central’s record boards Saturday.
Stuht started the day out with a huge toss of 52 feet, 11 inches to finish third in the weight throw. That set a personal best for her by almost two feet and broke the previous school record of 52-4.5, set in 2011. Saturday’s performance enabled Stuht to join the provisional qualifying list for the national championships in March.
“Lorell Stuht had a big day in the weight throw setting a school record,” coach Joe Dunham said. “She is progressing very nicely. I’m proud of her effort.”
Davis, who already owns the school record in the 60 meters, now holds the 400 meter record after clocking in at 58.28 seconds, finishing second. McBroom knocked a long standing record off in the 600 meters with her winning-time of 1:36.5. She bested the previous record set in 1979 by two seconds.
Davis and McBroom were joined by Camie Kibbee (senior, Mason City) and Kate Patton (freshman, Grand River, Iowa, Murray HS) HSin the 4×400 meter relay, finishing second in 3:55.47
“I thought our women’s 4×400 did a great job,” Dunham said. “Their performance tonight should qualify them for the NCAA championships.”
The fourth-place finish in the team standings wasn’t ideal, but Dunham is excited with where the team is at.
“Our women’s team competed very well today,” Dunham said. “I am very proud of all of them and their effort. The remainder of our indoor season is going to be very exciting.”
Distance runners turn in strong performances – Despite a disappointing fifth-place team finish, the Dutch men’s distance runners put on a strong performance in the 1,000 meters and the mile.
Eli Horton (senior, Runnells, Iowa, Southeast Polk HS) won his season-debut in the mile with a time of 4:16.87. Horton led a pack of Dutch runners in the event as four of the top five spots were occupied by Central athletes. Jamie Vander Veer (senior, Harvey, Iowa, Knoxville HS) took third in a personal record of 4:17.58. Drew Jackson (senior, Johnston) and Cole Decker (junior, Des Moines, Iowa, Dowling Catholic HS) rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Issac Steffensmeier (sophomore, Fort Madison) set a new personal best in the 1,000 meters at 2:35.84 to finish second. Decker finished in fourth setting his personal best by over seven seconds.
Dunham was pleased with the combined performance of the distance runners, but knows they have some improving to do.
“I was pleased with the progression that we’ve made from where we were at in the beginning of the season,” Dunham said. “I do think that we need to continue to improve. We’re not where we want to be yet.”
Freshman Justin Wimbish (Glendale, Ariz., Apollo HS) continues to impress in the long jump and sprinting events. He scored in three different events on Saturday. He set a new personal best in the long jump at 21-8.75, finished eighth in the 200 meters with a personal best 23.48 and was a part of the second-place 4×200 meter relay team.
“I was really pleased with Justin Wimbish today,” Dunham said. “I thought he competed really hard. I’m seeing really good things out of him and I think when he peaks he will surprise a lot of people.
“Overall the day was really good,” Dunham said. “Certainly there are some areas where we know we need to improve and get better. But we are definitely excited about where we are at this point in the season. We need to progress and there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.”
The majority of the Dutch track teams will be headed to Grinnell next weekend for the Dick Young Classic. A small contingent of athletes will head east to Boston to take part in the David Hemery Valentine Invitational hosted by Boston University.
