Dutch track and field team has 10 all-region honorees

Central Dutch Athletics

PELLA — The USTFCCCA all-Central Region team was announced Monday morning and 10 Central College track and field athletes were recognized for the 2019 NCAA Division III Outdoor season.

To be named All-Region, an athlete must either be ranked in the top-5 of an individual event in the region or be part of a top-3 relay team.

National shot put qualifier Emily Burt (senior, Freeport, Ill.) headlines the five Dutch women honored. Sophomores Mary Gray (West Des Moines, Waukee HS) and Kiki Pingel (Pella) were recognized in the heptathlon while Tori Van Velzen (junior, Cumming, Norwalk HS) was cited in the high jump and Holly Forrester (sophomore, Manhattan, Kan., Rock Creek HS) was mentioned in the triple jump.

The men’s team had five representatives on the all-region squad, highlighted by Will Daniels (junior, Geneseo, Ill.) in the decathlon, pole vault and high jump. Drake Lewis (sophomore, Lathrop, Mo.) was cited in the high jump and his brother Brock Lewis (freshman, Lathrop, Mo.) was recognized in the triple jump. Kyle Pape (senior, Dubuque, Wahlert Catholic HS) was honored in the 800-meter run and Jeremy Fopma (freshman, Marion) earned the honor in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Daniels, Drake Lewis and Burt will represent Central at this weekend’s NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio. Daniels will only compete in the decathlon while Lewis and Burt will enter the events that earned them all-region honors.