Strong day for Central’s freshmen on the track
OSKALOOSA — The freshmen on the Central College women’s track and field team accounted for a trio of event titles at the William Penn Invitational Friday.
There were no team scores kept at the meet. As a team, Central won seven events.
“We started a little slow, but about halfway through we started hitting some big PR’s in certain e vents and I think the atmosphere changed,” coach Brandon Sturman said. “Our team started getting excited and it was a fun day, especially at the end.”
In the final event, Central’s all-freshman 4×400-meter relay squad of Abby Gruver (freshman, Sully, Lynnville-Sully HS), Abbi Roerdink (freshman, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS), Elsie Thoreson (freshman, Pella) and Hadyn Miller (freshman, Iowa Falls, Iowa Falls-Alden HS) turned in a winning time of 4 minutes, 5.93 seconds. That quartet was also third in the 4×100-meter relay in 51.44 seconds.
“To run a time like that with four freshmen is really exciting,” Sturman said.
Thoreson won the 400-meter hurdles in 1:06.58 and Miller won the 400-meter dash in 1:01.10. Roerdink was second in the 400 meters (1:01.95) and Miller was third in the 200 meters (27.21 seconds).
Mari Stein (sophomore, Okoboji HS) swept the 800-meter and 1,500-meter runs for the second meet in a row. She won the 800 in 2:23.11 and the 1,500 in 4:56.53.
Caroline McMartin (freshman, Pella) was runner-up to Stein both events, crossing the line in 2:25.28 and 5:00.06, respectively. Megan Johnson (freshman, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS) was also third in the 1500 in 5:02.86
“That was great to see from Mari and Caroline,” Sturman said. “They’re both coming off a short week with heavy legs from training.”
Kennedy Morris (senior, Earlham) turned in pair of runner-up finishes in the hammer throw (167-6) and discus throw (134-1).
Hailey Hill (sophomore, Las Vegas, Nevada, West Career and Technical Academy) won the 3,000-meter race in 11:08.26. Lindsey Davidson (freshman, Northwood, Northwood-Kensett HS) was second in 11:10.85. In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Kate Hoogensen (freshman, Ankeny, Centennial HS) was second in 12:10.29 and Layken Bytnar (freshman, Bettendorf) was third in 13:25.78.
Holly Forrester (senior, Manhattan, Kan., Rock Creek HS) swept the long jump and triple jump with marks of 16-8.75 and 36-1.25, respectively. Teammate Kasey Pelzer (freshman, Pleasantville) also long jumped 16-8.75 to finish second. In the triple jump, Yuan Bank (junior, Littleton, Colo., Heritage HS) was third (31-4.5) and Chloe Morgan (freshman, Pella, Pella Christian HS) was fourth (31-2)
Cali Coffman (sophomore, Leawood, Kan., Blue Valley HS) was third in the pole vault (9-6.25) and MacKenzie Kruse (sophomore, St. Clair, Minn.) was fifth in the high jump (4-8.75).
Next weekend, Central will be represented at the Drake Relays in Des Moines and the Kip Janvrin Open in Indianola. The Drake Relays are Friday and Saturday for the College Division while the Kip Janvrin is Friday only.
