Inexperienced Dutch women flash potential at conference meet
Central College
STORM LAKE — Despite a disappointing sixth-place finish at the Iowa Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Central College women showed signs of future success.
The Dutch finished with 46 points. Wartburg won its 18th straight outdoor conference title.
“We saw a lot of really positive things for the future,” coach Joe Dunham said. “We have a lot returning next year. We’re optimistic for the future. I thought they competed hard and came prepared.”
A strong weekend continued for Hope Heitman (sophomore, Guttenberg, Clayton Ridge HS) in the 400-meter and 200-meter dashes. She improved upon her 400 time from Friday night by .31 seconds and placed third in 55.92 seconds. She took fourth in the 200 in 24.84 seconds, the fourth-best time in Central history.
“Hope had a great weekend,” Dunham said. “She’s all but punched her tickets to the national meet in the 400. We’ll focus on the 200 at the last chance meet to try and get her in that as well.”
Heitman anchored Kate Patton (junior, Murray), Lynzie Miller (sophomore, Des Moines, Lincoln HS) and Brianna Carlson (freshman, Altoona, Iowa, Appleton West HS) to a fifth-place finish in 4:02.01 in the 4×400-meter relay. Anna Shaw (junior, Bettendorf, Morning Star Academy) led off Heitman, Carlson and Patton in the 4×100, taking seventh in 51.25 seconds.
Senior stalwart Lorell Stuht (Loveland, Colo.) capped her final Iowa Conference meet by placing eighth in the discus throw. Her toss of 128-7 was just two inches shy of matching her season best. Stuht went to the national meet in the hammer throw a year ago and will need a big toss next week to make a return trip.
“She’s going to give it a run next week,” Dunham said. “I think she’s ready to throw far, it only takes one big throw. She’s focused and wants to get it done.”
Both Whitney Burgardt (sophomore, Britt, West Hancock HS) and Miller set new personal bests in their hurdling events to place seventh. Burgardt completed the 100-meter hurdles in 15.87 seconds while Miller legged out the 400-meter hurdles in 1:07.18.
Heitman and Stuht will be among the athletes competing at last chance meets around the region next week. Possible locations for competitions include North Central College (Ill.), Augustana College (Ill.) and the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.
