Brondyke returns to Germany, Thorpe Cup
Central Dutch Athletics
DUSSELDORF, GERMANY— The 2017 Drake Relays champion in the decathlon, Central College alum Kurtis Brondyke ‘11 continues his track and field season next weekend in Germany at the 24th annual Thorpe Cup.
The Thrope Cup is annual competition between the United States of America and Germany in the men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon. Seven men and seven women from each country comprise the competition which is scored on an individual and team basis.
It will be the former Division III All-American’s third appearance in the event, including a fourth-place finish in Fayetteville, Arkansas last summer. He placed 11th in 2015 in Bernhausen, Germany.
In 2016, American Scott Filip was the individual winner with 7,876 points as the United States team carried the first five spots in the standings. The team score favored the Americans 38,845 to 37,427. Filip returns in 2017 to defend his title.
Brondyke is one of three native Iowans to be on the co-ed team, as Alex Gochenour (Missouri Valley, Iowa/University of Arkansas) and Lindsay Lettow (Urbandale, Iowa/University of Central Missouri) will compete in the women’s heptathlon.
The venue for this year’s edition is Rather Waldstadion in Dusseldorf, the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia. Competition is slated for July 29 and 30.
