PELLA — For the second time this season the Central College men's track and field team took the team crown at a meet on its home turf, winning the four-team Dutch Athletics Classic.

Central came up just short of 200 points, finishing with 198 points. Division II Truman State (Mo.) was second with 109.5 points.
Junior Nathan Fitzgerald (Elkader, Central Elkader HS) topped the 18-man field in the shot put by over four feet as he was the lone competitor to surpass 50 feet, reaching 50 feet 4.75 inches. Michael Firkins (senior, Centerville) was second in the weight throw, in a new personal best 54-2.5

"That was a big goal of his to just get over 50 feet today," coach Joe Dunham said. "He's coming along and I'm confident that Coach Walz and Fuller will have him ready to go when it counts most."

Pole vaulters Tanner Johnson (freshman, Gallatin, Mo.) and Ryan Kruse (senior, St. Clair, Minn.) were both a part of the four-man tie for first at 13 feet, 6.25 inches. It was a new personal best for both Johnson and Kruse. Will Daniels (sophomore, Geneseo, Ill.) was fifth after clearing 13-0.25.

"They all did really well," Dunham said. "They all had new PR's."

Dropping a full .20 seconds off his previous-best time, Daniels was also the 60-meter hurdle champion in .62 seconds.

Freshman Caleb Cowles (Bloomfield, Davis County HS) impressed in his high jump debut by clearing the bar at 6-4.

"It was great to see Caleb come out have a great first meet," Dunham said. "He jumped well."

In the mile run, Mark Fairley (senior, Dubuque) won in a time of 4:17.7, one of the nation's top-15 times. Taylor Donner (senior, Dubuque) was the runner-up in the 800-meer run (2:07.00) while junior Jordan Toomey (Runnells, Southeast Polk HS) was third in 2:09.00

The winning 4x400-meter relay team consisted of Mitchell Yaw (junior, Orange City, MOC-Floyd Valley HS), Blake Morgan (senior, Story City, Roland-Story HS), Hunter Howe (senior, La Plata, Mo.) and Caleb Jennings (junior, Spirit Lake) in a winning time of 3:31.59. Yaw also won the 300-meter dash in 37.31.

Next on the docket for the Dutch is a trip to Waverly for the Wartburg Select on Saturday.