PELLA — Leaning on a deep pool of sprinters for points, the Central College men's track & field team was the runner-up at the Central Open Saturday.

The Dutch came up just short of the team title, their 230 total points was just six behind the winning total put together by Simpson College.
Central placed four in the top-10 of the 100-meter dash, including the top finisher Justin Wimbish (junior, Glendale, Ariz., Apollo HS). He crossed the line in 10.98 seconds.

"He's getting more consistent," coach Joe Dunham said. "It's something he may have struggled in the past, but his consistency is apparent this year."

The quartet of P.J. Carey (junior, Ankeny), Connor Lewin (freshman, Stillman Valley, Ill.), Cory Suedmeier (freshman, Ankeny, Centennial HS) and Blake Morgan (junior, Story City, Roland-Story HS) were the top team in 3 minutes, 25.71 seconds.
           
Morgan was second in the 200-meter dash (22.57 seconds) and Lewin was the runner up in the 400-meter dash (51.33 seconds).

"We're excited about how the sprinters are really starting to put things together at the right time of the year," Dunham said.
Dunham noted the performance of freshman Preston Kizer (Dubuque), who placed second in the 800-meter run (1:58.77) and led of a 4x400-meter relay squad.

"It's nice to see him coming along and improving at this time of the year," he said. "I've been kind of waiting for it and he looked great today."

Thrower Nathan Fitzgerald (sophomore, Elkader, Central Elkader HS) set new personal bests in the discus throw (144-5) and hammer throw (138-10), placing second and fourth, respectively.

"He looked really good today," Dunham said.

In other field events, Wimbish won the long jump in 22-5.25 and Will Daniels (freshman, Geneseo, Ill.) tied for first in the pole vault (12-3.5)

The Drake Relays are next weekend and Central will have several athletes entered over the course of the four-day meet. The Dutch will also be represented at the Kip Janvrin Open at Simpson College Thursday and Friday.