Final track tune-up for Central women

Central Dutch Athletics

MONMOUTH, ILL.—The Central College women’s track and field team put together a good day of action at the Monmouth Fighting Scot Invitational Saturday, finishing third.

With 91 points, the Dutch trailed the host school Monmouth by 114 points.

“I think everyone competed well and some people improved and hit the marks they wanted,” coach Brandon Sturman said. “Even if they didn’t hit their marks, they figured out the things they need to work on to be ready for conference next weekend.”

The only Central female to win an event, Sarah Christopher (freshman, Pontiac, Ill.) crossed the line first in the 400-meter dash (1 minute, 1.33 seconds).

“Sarah ran great,” Sturman said. “I was hoping the time was better than the clock said it was. She’s getting stronger every week.”

Senior Lynzie Miller (Des Moines, Lincoln HS) improved her career-best 400-meter hurdles (1:05.52) to finish second.

“Lynzie dropped over a second off her time,” Sturman said. “That’s a good run for her.”

Christopher and Miller ran the final two legs of the 4×100-meter relay with Allyson Woods (sophomore, Milan, Rockridge HS) and Holly Forrester (sophomore, Manhattan, Kan., Rock Creek HS) ran the first two legs. The quartet was third in 49.98 seconds.

Kennedy Morris (sophomore, Earlham) had a pair of top-three efforts in the throwing events, taking second in the hammer throw (163 feet, 10 inches) and third in the discus throw (133-11). Gillian Streit (sophomore, Manilla, Harlan HS) was second in the discus (134-1) while Emily Burt (junior, Freeport, Ill.) was fourth in the hammer (145-3) and shot put (38-5.50)

“Kennedy’s getting it,” Sturman said. She’s right there and getting better every week. She’s been consistent every week.

In the 1,500-meter run, Miranda Kruiswyk (freshman, Dunlap, Ill.) finished third in 5:06.46.

The three-day American Rivers Conference outdoor championships starts next Thursday in Cedar Rapids on the campus of Coe College.