Dutch women jump well at Drake track meet
Central Dutch Athletics
DES MOINES — At the Blue Oval Invitational hosted at Drake Stadium on Saturday, the Central College women’s track and field team found success in a pair of jumping events and 400-meter races.
There were no team scores kept in the meet hosted at Drake Stadium that featured athletes from Division II and NAIA athletes in addition to Central and Simpson College.
Sweeping both of Saturdays’ jumping events, Tori Van Velzen (junior, Cumming, Norwalk HS) won the high jump (5-1) and Holly Forrester (sophomore, Manhattan, Kan., Rock Creek HS) won the triple jump (36-5). Most of the invitational’s field events were contested on Friday.
“If Holly could have finished her last jump without landing weird, she could have broken the school record,” coach Brandon Sturman said. “I was really excited about where she’s at and I think it was a good mark, but we want to get better.”
“Tori is jumping higher at the start of the meet, which mean she’s more confident in her first jump. She just needs to keep progressing and working hard.”
The Dutch had three 400-meter runners take top-four spots, led by freshman Sarah Christopher (Pontiac, Ill.) in second place (1:02.01). Senior Lynzie Miller (senior, Des Moines, Lincoln HS) was on her heels for third place (1:02.02) and Ally Woods (sophomore, Milan, Ill., Rockridge HS) was fourth (1:02.61). Miller also took third in the 400-meter hurdles (1:07.44).
Woods, Forrester, Christopher and Miller ran a winning time of 50.30 seconds in the 4×100-meter relay.
“I wouldn’t say our times are exactly where we want them to be, but we are competing which is a good thing,” Sturman said. “When all the wind conditions come together and we are at the end of the season, I think we’ll do really well.”
Hammer thrower Emily Burt (junior, Freeport, Ill.) finished third with a mark of 134-3. Kennedy Morris (sophomore, Earlham) was fourth (133-5) and Lilly Smithson (junior, Redfield, West Central Valley HS) was fifth (129-8)
On the track, Kiki Pingel (sophomore, Pella) edged teammate Mary Gray (sophomore, West Des Moines, Waukee HS) for third place in the 100-meter hurdles with times of 16.07 and 16.11 seconds, respectively. Miranda Kruiswyk (freshman, Dunlap, Ill.) was fourth in the 800-meter run in 2:23.48).
“Miranda broke five minutes in the 1,500-meter run last night and came back strong today,” Sturman said. “She stood out to me a lot this weekend.”
The Dutch will be split up at three meets next week. A few athletes will head to the Kansas Relays and Bryan Clay Invitational while the majority of the squad will compete at Nebraska Wesleyan University on Friday.
