Jim Duncan track Invitational yields good times for Central men
Central Dutch Athletics
DES MOINES — At a critical juncture of the season, the Central College men’s outdoor track and field team used Friday’s Jim Duncan Invitational to continue the preparation process for the month of May and championship season.
The Jim Duncan Invitational, hosted by Drake University, featured competitors from all three levels of NCAA competition, NAIA and NJCAAA.
“We are moving into that mode of competing at our highest level,” coach Joe Dunham said. “You could see that start to turn a little bit this weekend. We’ve got a few weeks before we host the Iowa Conference Championships and I’m really liking what I’m seeing.”
Dropping a full two seconds off his time from March 30, Mitchell Yaw (junior, Orange City, MOC-Floyd Valley HS) was fifth in the 400-meter dash (50.11 seconds). Senior Hunter Howe (La Plata, Mo.) won the third heat in 50.60 seconds and took sixth.
“Both of them looked fantastic,” Dunham said. “They definitely took a step forward and are moving into the upper echelon of the Iowa Conference. Hopefully we’ll see them competing at a high level the last few weeks of the season.”
Mark Fairley (senior, Dubuque) was the top collegiate finisher in the 1,500-meter run, placing second behind an unattached athlete in a time of 3:55.81. He also was fifth in the 800-meter run (1:58.88) behind Kyle Pape (junior, Dubuque, Wahlert Catholic HS) third-place effort of 1:58.60.
“They’re at the peak of the training so for them to run the way did today was really good,” Dunham said. “Even though it may not show up completely on the results, they know what they’ve done for the past seven days.”
The 3,000-meter steeplechase title went to Tanner Rathje (senior, Marion, Linn-Mar HS) with a time of 9:45.24 and teammate Jordan Toomey (junior, Runnells, Southeast Polk HS) was third in 9:50.88.
“That was a PR for them, which is really great,” Dunham said. “It’s good to see them gain some confidence in that event.”
The Dutch also had top-three finishes in the shot put from Nathan Fitzgerald (junior, Elkader, Central HS) and Hunter Pollpeter (senior, Fort Madison) in the 100-meter hurdles. Fitzgerald was second (50-8.25) and Pollpeter was third (15.00 seconds)
On day two of Jim Duncan Invitational, Central will only be represented in the pole vault by Will Daniels (sophomore, Geneseo, Ill.) and Tanner Johnson (freshman, Gallatin, Mo.) starting at 11 a.m.
