CRETE, NEB.  — Will Daniels (junior, Geneseo, Ill.) grabbed another school record and put his name on the NCAA Division III historical top-10 list in the decathlon with his performance at the Jim Dutcher Memorial Classic Saturday.
           
Daniels won with 7,195 points, the eighth-best mark in Division III since 1985. The decathlon changed in 1985 so separate lists were created. He has the best mark in the country this season.
           
In the women's heptathlon, Kiki Pingel (sophomore, Pella) was third (4,442 points) and Mary Gray (sophomore, West Des Moines, Waukee HS) was fourth (4,363 points).
           
Decathlon
           
Already the school's record holder for the heptathlon indoors, Daniels secured the record for the outdoor decathlon thanks to an emphasis on the events of the second day.
           
"I was happy with the whole day," associate head coach Jim Fuller said. "He has dedicated himself to the second day since nationals last year. He's been working on the discus in the morning on his own. We've worked hard on the pole vault and the hurdles and his javelin has come a long way.
           
Daniels had the top marks in the javelin throw (168-7) and discus throw (128-9)
           
"It was a really good javelin, he was throwing into the wind," Fuller said.
           
He was second overall in the 110-meter hurdles (15.40 seconds), pole vault (14-2.75) and 1,500-meter run (4:57.30).
           
Heptathlon
           
Pingel had new personal-best marks in all three of Saturday's events, including the field's best 800-meter run (2:21.50). She also long jumped 16-6 and threw the javelin 90-5, adding 332 points to her previous-best score.
           
"Kiki had a very strong day two," Fuller said. "She ran that 800 hard into a little bit of wind. I was really happy with the way she performed."
           
Gray was second in the 800 (2:26.78) and had marks of 96-4 in the javelin throw and 16-2.25 in the long jump. She improved her career-best heptathlon by 203 points.

"Mary was good but not great in all three events," Fuller said. "I was pleased with her effort."

A handful of Central athletes will hopefully be competing at the Drake Relays next week, but the heat sheets won't be posted until Sunday. The majority of Central's roster will be at the Kip Janvrin Open on Simpson's campus next weekend.