Sun shines on Central’s distance runners
Central Dutch Athletics
AZUSA, CALIF. — New career and season-bests times were in high demand for the Central College track and field team on Friday night at the Bryan Clay Invitational.
The four-man contingent of Dutch men’s distance runners achieved or matched career-best times in six of the seven races they ran on Friday. Not to be outdone, both Central women that made that trip had at least season-best times.
“When you come out here and run in this environment and against all this great competition, you can get sucked into the pace of the race,” coach Joe Dunham said. “We’ve seen it over and over again when we come here. The benefits of being able to come to California and perform at a really high level makes our distance program really special.”
Coming off of a record-setting night Thursday in the 3,000-meter men’s steeplechase, Mark Fairley (senior, Dubuque) made a slight improvement on his career-best 1,500-meter run time to 3:54.07. He placed 174th in the faster of the two divisions.
“I’m proud of his competiveness,” Dunham said. “He ran a great race.”
Kyle Pape (junior, Dubuque, Wahlert Catholic HS) moved into the No. 10 spot in program history with his 1:52.88 in the 800-meter run, placing 21st. He also was 23rd in the other 1,500-meter run division with a time of 4:01.10.
“Pape ran an incredible 800,” Dunham said. “He’s ranked No. 9 nationally now based off times coming into the week. It was a huge PR for him.”
In the 1500 meters, Jon Specht (senior, Dubuque, Hempstead HS) dropped six seconds off his previous best to take 11th in 3:58.91. He also completed the 800 meters in 1:55.76
“I’m excited about the weekend Jon had,” Dunham said. “He put together two really great races.”
Preston Kizer (sophomore, Dubuque) ran the 1500 meters and 800 meters in 4:05.78 and 1:58.58, placing 51st and 75th, respectively.
“I expect big things out of all of these guys in the coming weeks,” Dunham said.
On the women’s side, both Evie Kammeyer (senior, Urbandale) and Holly McKinney (senior, St. Charles, Interstate 35 HS) contested the 1,500-meter run. They finished 196th and 241st in the lower division with times of 4:45.07 and 4:51.32, respectively.
“I’m really proud of Evie and Holly,” Dunham said. “They came ready to compete this weekend and were able to get some good speed work tonight in the 1500.
A large contingent of Dutch track and field athletes will be competing Saturday in Indianola at a triangular featuring Simpson College and Nebraska Wesleyan University. Field events begin at noon.
