Final tune up for Central track and field squads
Central College
PELLA — In the final action before the Iowa Conference Championships next weekend, the Central College men’s and women’s track and field squads hosted rival Simpson College in a dual Friday night.
After hosting a pair of large meets earlier in the indoor season, the third home meet looked very different for the Dutch. Aside from a few unattached competitors from William Penn, the Dutch and the Storm made up the entire field Friday night.
“It’s tough to create the kind of environment you want without a full competition,” coach Joe Dunham said. “I was really pleased to see the team perform hard anyways.”
Dan Roemerman (senior, Iowa City) had been closing in on the school 60 meter hurdles record of 8.20 seconds set by Cory Woods in 1999 for much of the last two seasons. Roemerman was finally able to eclipse that mark Friday night, streaking past the competition to finish in 8.11, good for fourth in Division III.
“I’m really excited about Dan Roemerman,” Dunham said. “He obliterated the school record. That mark will give him a lot of confidence heading into next weekend.”
Five other Dutch men won their event, highlighted by Austin Roberts (senior, Bloomfield, Iowa, Davis County HS) taking the 400 meters in 51.92. That’s the fastest mark by a Central athlete on a standard 200 meter track this season.
Breaking her own school record for the second time this year was junior Lorell Stuht (Loveland, Colo.) in the weight throw. Passing over her previous mark by an inch to reach 55-1.25, Stuht moved up to No. 14 in Division III.
“Lorell threw really well,” Dunham said. “Her mark moves her up on the list, but more importantly it gets her confident going into the conference championship.”
In the 60 meter hurdles, Maddie Smith (Cedar Falls) was victorious in 9.71, a career best time for the sophomore. Finishing second in 9.83 was teammate Whitney Burgardt (freshman, Britt, Iowa, West Hancock HS).
Attention now turns toward the Iowa Conference Championships next Friday and Saturday in Storm Lake. Dunham is excited about the possibilities that next weekend brings.
“We’re going to be really focused next weekend,” he said. “As always, our goal is to compete for team championships as well as individual championships.”
