Dutch women take two spots in conference heptathlon

Central Dutch Athletics

Central Dutch Athletics

PELLA— Sucessfully defending her title, Central College women’s track and field athlete Mary Gray (sophomore, West Des Moines, Waukee HS) was the heptathlon champion Friday at the American Rivers Conference outdoor track and field championships.

Central is fifth through nine events with 46 points. Wartburg College leads with 85 points.

Teammate Kiki Pingel (sophomore, Pella) was second with 4,230 points, just eight behind Gray’s winning total of 4,238. Freshman Krissa Larson (Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) added a sixth-place finish (3,695 points).

“Having three girls place in the heptathlon is phenomenal,” coach Brandon Sturman said. “Mary and Kiki really push each other. They wanted better scores but the weather hurt them. They were able to focus on getting the top and getting us team points.

In the 400-meter hurdles, Pingel qualified for Saturday’s final sixth in 1:05.59 and Lynzie Miller (senior. Des Moines, Lincoln HS) was eighth in 1:06.06.

High jumper Tori Van Velzen (junior, Cumming, Norwalk HS) cleared the bar at 5-4.25 to win the league title.

“It was a good win for Van Velzen,” Sturman said. “The height progressions weren’t exactly what we wanted , but she was able to attempt a height that would have qualified her for nationls. She’s peaking at the right time and we’ll see if she can get that mark next week she needs to qualify for nationals.”

Kennedy Morris (sophomore, Earlham) was runner-up in the hammer (157-4) while Emily Burt (junior, Freeport, Ill.) was eighth (143-10). Burt was also eighth in the shot put (40-3.25).

“Kennedy’s distance wasn’t phenomenal, but she competed,” Sturman said. “She did what she needed for a second-place finish and to score points for us.”

The quartet of Nicole May (sophomore, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS), Sarah Steffensmeier (sophomore, Fort Madison), Maddie Soupir (freshman, Omaha, Neb., Platteview HS) and Miranda Kruiswyk (freshman, Dunlap, Ill.) were seventh in the 4×800-meter relay in 9:59.46

Day three from the conference meet continues on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Posted by on May 11 2019. Filed under College Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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