Kruse’s javelin toss highlights opening day of Central track Invitational
Central Dutch Athletics
PELLA — The first javelin throw of the outdoor track and field season was a record-breaking one for Central College senior Ryan Kruse (St. Clair, Minn.) as he recorded a mark of 200 feet, 11 inches to break the old school record by over eight feet Thursday at the Central Invitational.
Aside from Kruse’s school-record toss of the javelin, Will Daniels (sophomore, Geneseo, Ill.) and Michael Firkins (senior, Centerville) gave Central a pair of place-finishers as Daniels took fourth (159-6) and Firkins was seventh (151-2).
In the discus throw, Kruse also registered a fifth-place finish discus throw at 146-7. Both marks were new personal bests for Kruse.
“It was an incredible (javelin) throw right out of the gate,” coach Joe Dunham said. “It was probably good enough to get him into the national meet, which is exciting for him.”
Central also had a trio of top-eight finishers in the 1500-meter run, led by Mark Fairley’s (senior, Dubuque) time of 4:03.39 in a third-place effort. Kyle Pape (junior, Dubuque, Wahlert HS) was sixth (4:07.69) and Preston Kizer (sophomore, Dubuque) was eighth (4:08.70).
Freshman pole vaulter Tanner Johnson (freshman, Gallatin, Mo.) continued his successful inaugural campaign with a fifth-place performance after clearing 12 feet, 11.5 inches.
“There are big things coming for him,” Dunham said. “We’re excited about what he is doing for our team. He’s added a whole new dimension for our program.”
Competing in his first decathlon, Caleb Jennings (junior, Spirit Lake) is in second with 3,031 points. His 100-meter dash time of 11.31 seconds was best of the three competitors.
“Caleb high jumped well and ran a good 100,” Dunham said. “We’re pretty pleased with his day as well.
The prelims of the 110-meter hurdles saw Dutch senior Hunter Pollpeter (Fort Madison) qualifying fourth in a time of 15.52 seconds.
Day two of the Central Invitational begins for the men with the decathlon’s 110-meter hurdles at 9 a.m. Field events start at 10 a.m. with the 10,000-meter run kicking things off on the track at 10:30 a.m.
