PELLA — Logan Mulford's (senior, Mount Pleasant) exceptional effort in the high jump highlighted the Dutch Holiday Preview for the Central College indoor men's track and field squad Saturday.
Making their season debut, the Dutch placed fourth at their own home invitational by scoring 57 points. Drake University took the 12-team crown with 124.5 points.
The runner-up at last year's national indoor meet, Mulford was sensational in his first competitive effort of the year. He soared over the bar at 6 feet, 11.5 inches, sealing the meet title and already securing a spot at the NCAA Division III national meet in March.
"He makes his season a lot easier because he's not chasing mark to qualify for nationals," associate head coach Jim Fuller said. "He knows he's in and now we can plan out his season."
The program record was set by Cale Van Genderen in 2005 at 7-1.5, a mark that Mulford has sights on resetting.
"He believes he can jump that high, and I do, too," Fuller said. "Pretty much every time he goes out now, he's going to be looking to hit that school record mark."
Reese Iversen (junior, Dallas Center-Grimes) was fifth in the high jump at 6-3.5
There was a strong Central presence in the 3,000-meter race, registering five of the eight placewinners. The performance of oft-injured Jon Specht (junior, Dubuque, Hempstead HS), who placed third in 9 minutes, 04.85 seconds, stood out to Fuller, .
"Specht had a good race." he said. "He's fought injuries throughout his career and didn't run much track last year. I think he'll be pleased with that."
Justin Wimbish (junior, Glendale, Ariz., Apollo HS) matched the fastest time of his career in the 60-meter dash in 7.06, taking fifth place.
"He's worked hard this fall and it showed," Fuller said.
Central also scored in the 60-meter hurdles with Hunter Pollpeter (junior, Fort Madison), the weight throw with Michael Firkins (junior, Centerville) and Jake Webb (senior, Zearing, Colo-Nesco HS), the pole vault with Ryan Kruse (junior, St. Clair, Minn.) and with Eli Miller (freshman, Newhall, Benton HS) in the 1,000-meter run.
Aside from a small contingent of multi-event athletes heading to Kearney, Nebraska next Friday and Saturday, the Dutch are off from competition until the Dutch Athletics Classic in H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse January 21.
