Dutch women and men ranked in indoor track national computer rankings

Central College

PELLA — The Central College women’s and men’s track and field squads are ranked 10th and 18th, respectively, in the USTFCCCA Division III Indoor Track and Field Preseason National Team Computer Rankings released Tuesday.

The Dutch women tied for 13th at last year’s NCAA Division III Indoor Championships, their highest finish since 2002 and the program’s second-highest ever indoor finish. It was the first time the Central women have earned all-America honors in three different events at the indoor national meet.

Eighth-year coach Joe Dunham will return NCAA all-Americans Abi Davis (senior, West Des Moines/Dowling Catholic HS) and Kate Patton (sophomore, Murray). Six other 2014-15 all-Iowa Conference honorees will join Davis and Patton on the 2015-16 squad.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology opens the season in the No. 1 slot in the women’s poll, followed by Illinois Wesleyan and defending champion Wis.-La Crosse. Central is the only ranked Iowa Conference school.

On the men’s side, the Dutch are coming off a tie for 55th at the national meet last season. Central will return four all-conference performers, headlined by Cole Decker (senior, Des Moines/Dowling Catholic HS) and Logan Mulford (junior, Mount Pleasant), both of whom competed at the national championships.

The men from Wis.-La Crosse are ranked in the first slot after a runner-up finish at the national meet last season. Wis.-Oshkosh and North Central (Ill.) are second and third, respectively, followed by defending champion Wis.-Eau Claire. The Dutch are joined by one other Iowa Conference school in the poll, as Wartburg opens the season at No. 8.

Both Dutch squads will compete next at the Cornell Invitational Jan. 23 in Mount Vernon.