Central track and field team open indoor season at home

Central College

Central College

PELLA — The Central College track and field teams got their seasons off to strong starts in hosting the Dutch Holiday Preview Saturday.

The Central men took fourth in the 12-team field, scoring 45 points. William Penn won the title with 92 points. On the women’s side, the Dutch tied for fifth with 46.5 points in a 13-team field. Division II schools Truman State (Mo.) and Central Methodist (Mo.) shared the crown with 98 points.

“I was very proud of our effort today,” coach Joe Dunham said. “One thing I look for more than anything else in this first meet is competitiveness and focus. I thought we did a great job with both of those things today.”

Davis paces Dutch to fifth-place finish—

A two-time All-American in indoor track in the 60 meters, Abi Davis (senior, West Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) showed good form already this season, winning the event in 7.69 seconds. Davis holds the school record in the event with a time of 7.59.

“I can’t say enough about Abi,” Dunham said. “She runs under extreme pressure and seems to thrive on it. She ran the fastest time in the country and nearly broke her own record.”

Davis was joined by Ashlee Downs (senior, Urbandale, Iowa, West Des Moines Valley HS), Kate Patton (sophomore, Murray) and Hope Heitman (freshman, Guttenberg, Iowa, Clayton Ridge HS) to win the 4×400 meter relay in 3:59.6

Junior Andie Arthofer (Dubuque) set a career-best in winning the 1,000 meters in 3:14.26. Arthofer’s time was nearly two seconds better than her previous best.

“I thought she ran a fantastic race,” Dunham said.

Dutch men take fourth—

The Central men had just one event winner as Cole Decker’s (senior, Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) mark of 8:35.01 gave him the title in the 3,000 meters. Despite earning All-American status at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, Decker was ready to get back to competition.

“Cole looked good winning the 3K,” Dunham said. “It was good to see him back to being himself a disappointing end to his cross country season.”

Hunter Howe (sophomore, La Plata, Mo., La Plata R-II) and Austin Roberts (senior, Bloomfield, Iowa, Davis County HS) tied for fourth in the 300 meters, both clocking in at 36.66.

“I thought Hunter and Austin had great performances in the 300 meters,” Dunham said. “Both of those guys took big steps from where they were last year at this time. It gives them a great launching point for this season.”

A small contingent of Dutch athletes will take part in the Doane Happy Holiday Multi-Event next weekend in Crete, Nebraska.

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