Dutch track squad closes out Drake Relays
Central Dutch Athletics
PELLA—On a rainy Saturday at the Drake Relays, the Central College track and field team had three more relay teams get a chance to run at one of the nation’s premier track meets.
There are no team scores kept in the college division of the Drake Relays.
The men’s distance medley relay team crossed the line in sixth place with a time of 10 minutes, 24.17 seconds. Alec Stahl (freshman, Steamboat Rock, AGWSR HS) ran the opening leg before giving way to Cory Suedmeier (junior, Ankeny, Cetennial HS), Will DeHaan (freshman, DeWitt, Central HS) and Kyle Pape (senior, Dubuque, Wahlert Catholic HS). Wartburg College won the Iowa College Division in 10:19.75.
“We were happy with the way they competed,” coach Brandon Sturman said. “It was exciting to be able to run it Drake because we don’t really run it outdoors.”
Getting a rare opportunity to run a shuttle hurdle relay, Whitney Burgardt (senior, Britt, West Hancock HS), Krissa Larson (freshman, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS), Kiki Pingel (sophomore, Pella) and Mary Gray (sophomore, West Des Moines, Waukee HS) placed 11th in 1:05.18. Iowa State University was the champion in 56.56 seconds.
“It was a good experience for all four of them,” Sturman said. “None of them have done it since high school and they are all from Iowa. With Whitney being a senior, it was a good opportunity for her to run at Drake Relays.”
Allyson Woods (sophomore, Milan, Ill., Rockridge HS), Sarah Christopher (freshman, Pontiac), Lynzie Miller (senior, Des Moines, Lincoln HS) and Larson also placed 24th in the 4×200-meter relay. In 1:33.70, the University of Kentucky won the event.
“Each of them ran great,” Sturman said. “We just didn’t have great handoffs.”
Central’s final regular season event will be next Saturday at the Fighting Scot Invitational hosted by Monmouth College.
“Hopefully everyone can feel good and fine tine whatever they need to,” Sturman said. “We’re trying to set ourselves up for a good conference meet in two weeks.”
