Dutch track athletes enter final qualifying marks
Central Dutch Athletics
NAPERVILLE, ILL.— Competing with partial squads at the Gregory Invitational and Augustana Twilight Qualifier Thursday, the Central College track and field team entered its final qualifying meets prior to the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships next weekend.
Gregory Invitational
Freshman Jeremy Fopma (Marion) placed second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, entering the top-30 nationally by clocking in at 9 minutes, 18.33 seconds.
Senior Kyle Pape (Dubuque, Wahlert Catholic HS) finished the final 800-meter run of his career in 1:53.14, a new season best but not enough to qualify for the national meet.
Bryant Seuferer (junior, Milo, Southeast Warren HS) was 14th in the 1,500-meter run, just missing breaking the four-minute mark (4:00.55).
Augustana Twilight Qualifier
Gilian Streit (sophomore, Manilla, Harlan HS) won the discus throw with a toss of 143 feet, 11 inches. She is on the qualifying bubble as her best mark of 145-2 is No. 21 in the country and 22 entries will be accepted.
On the track, Lynzie Miller (senior, Des Moines, Lincoln HS) was third in the 400-meter hurdles (1:04.74) and Sarah Christopher (freshman, Pontiac, Ill.) was fifth in the 400-meter run (1:00.83).
High jumper Tori Van Velzen (junior, Cumming, Norwalk HS) could not improve upon her season-best height, clearing 5-2.25 to finish fourth. She sits No. 27 nationally in what will be a field of 22 qualifers.
Men’s sprinter Caleb Jennings (senior, Spirit Lake) had top-10 finishes in the 100-meter dash (7th – 11.20 seconds) and 200-meter dash (8th – 22.57 seconds).
The national meet is scheduled for May 23-25 in Geneva, Ohio at the Spire Institute. Official qualifiers will be released Friday.
