Central track and field athletes make final qualifying attempts

Central College

STEVENS POINT, WIS.—A handful of Central College track and field athletes gave it one final go Saturday at the Pointer Final Qualifier and Wartburg Qualifier.

With the final list of NCAA Division III Indoor Championships qualifiers coming out Sunday, the Dutch competed Saturday looking to improve their chances.

Unfortunately of the 11 athletes competing, only Kyle Pape (sophomore, Dubuque, Wahlert Catholic HS) improved upon his season best, finishing the mile in 4 minutes, 24.43 seconds.

Also in the mile, Taylor Donner (junior, Dubuque) finished in 4:30.78 and Jon Specht (junior, Dubuque/Hempstead HS) clocked in at 4:38.33. Central’s two entries in the 3,000-meter run, Mark Fairley (junior, Dubuque) and Isaac Steffensmeier (junior, Fort Madison), ran times of 8:39.42 and 9:07.26, respectively.

Weight throwers Lorell Stuht (senior, Loveland, Colo.) and Michael Firkins (junior, Centerville) came up short as Stuht reached just 55 feet, 9.25 inches with her throw while Firkins tossed his 52-1.25.

Shot putter Nathan Fitzgerald (sophomore, Elkader, Central Elkader HS) went 48-0 with his effort and Justin Wimbish (junior, Glendale, Ariz./Apollo HS) long jumped 21-4.

Hope Heitman (freshman, Guttenberg, Iowa, Clayton Ridge HS), ran the 200-meter dash (26.56) and 400-meter dash (58.63), finishing third overall in the 200.

The only athlete to compete at Wartburg instead of Stevens Point, freshman Will Daniels (Geneseo, Ill.) cleared 6-5.50 on high jump, well below his season best of 6-9.

Dunham expects Stuht and men’s high jumper Logan Mulford (senior, Mount Pleasant) to represent the program at the national meet next weekend.

“We are excited to go next weekend,” coach Joe Dunhm said. “Those two have worked extremely hard to get to this point. It’s their opportunity to compete with the best in the country.”

The national meet will begin next Friday in Naperville, Illinois and is hosted by North Central College. Official qualifying lists are expected to be released either Sunday or Monday.

“I’m extremely proud of our athletes and coaches,” Dunham said. “We had some great things happen this indoor season and we are looking to continue that at the national meet next weekend.”