PELLA—Surging late in the meet, the Central College men's track and field team came out on top in a dual meet against Simpson College 73-71 Friday night.
It was the final full-team competition for the Dutch before next weekend's Iowa Conference Indoor Championships.

"This meet is designed to give us a final tune-up before the conference meet," coach Joe Dunham said. "I think we got that accomplished."
In the shot put, Nathan Fitzgerald's (sophomore, Elkader/Central Elkader HS) career-best effort of 51-6.25 earned him the top spot. Teammate Tanner Bird (freshman, Vinton/Vinton-Shellsburg HS) was second in 43-11.75.

"Nathan had a fantastic day," Dunham said. "He made a huge jump to No. 2 in the conference. He's put himself in the conversation for a title next weekend."
Central went 1-2 in the weight throw, Michael Firkins (junior, Centerville) led the way at 53-7.5 and Jake Webb (senior, Zearing, Colo-Nesco HS) followed in 47-0.75.

"Our throwers all looked really good today," Dunham said. "We had a ton of PR's."

Achieving his season best by over a foot, Reese Iversen (junior, Grimes/Dallas Center-Grimes HS) won the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 4.25 inches. He also placed third in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.68 seconds.

The Dutch also took the top two spots in the high jump, as Logan Mulford (senior, Mount Pleasant) and Will Daniels (freshman, Geneseo, Ill.) cleared 6-9 and 6-7, respectively.

In a frantic finish, Preston Kizer (freshman, Zwingle/Dubuque HS) was nipped at the line in the 800-meter run to take second. He clocked in at 2:01.17.
"Preston's improving every single weekend and gaining confidence," Dunham said. "He's learning how to run 800's."
 
A dozen Central athletes will take part in the University of Iowa Open Saturday, where they will compete on the "fastest track in the world." It's a one-of-a-kind surface that was previously used at the 2016 Indoor World Championships in Portland, Oregon before being purchased by the Iowa.