ROCK ISLAND, ILL. — One Central College women's track and field All-American is headed back to the Division III outdoor championships, while another wrapped up her illustrious career at the Augustana Twilight Qualifier Thursday night.

An All-American in the 4x400-meter relay at the 2016 outdoor meet, Hope Heitman (sophomore, Guttenberg, Clayton Ridge HS) is in line to return to the national meet this season. After a career-best time of 55.92 in the 400-meter dash last weekend at the Iowa Conference Championships, she is likely qualified in that event.

Attempting to qualify in the 200-meter dash as well, she was unable to improve upon her time and finished third in 25.06
 
"I'm very excited about her coming on strong at the end of the season," coach Joe Dunham said. "She's really improved the last couple of weeks. She's got a lot of confidence right now and she should, she's running really well."

A 2015 indoor All-American, Lorell Stuht (senior, Loveland, Colo.) was unable to find the big throw she needed to qualify in the hammer throw. She placed 10th in 150 feet, 9 inches.

"I'm really proud of Lorell," Dunham said. "She came in and really embraced the program and our coaches. She bought into the system and really benefitted from it. I'm really thankful for what she meant to the program."
           
From the men's side a handful of sprinters and thrower Nathan Fitzgerald (sophomore, Elkader, Central Elkader HS) were also competing. Fitzgerald was 18th in the discus throw (150-9) and seventh in the first flight of the shot put (47-6.5).
           
Justin Wimbish (junior, Glendale, Ariz., Apollo HS) ran the 200-meter dash in 22.04 seconds and won the long jump in 22-7.25. Freshmen Cory Suedmeier (Ankeny Centennial HS) and Connor Lewin (Stillman Valley, Ill.) were eighth and ninth in the 400-meter dash, clocking in at 51.52 and 51.54 respectively.
           
Central's fifth-place squad in the 4x400-meter relay was comprised of P.J. Carey (junior, Ankeny), Caleb Jennings (sophomore, Storm Lake), Mitchell Yaw (sophomore, Orange City, MOC-Floyd Valley HS) and Blake Morgan (junior, Story City, Roland-Story HS) finished in 3:19.83.