CEDAR RAPIDS—A combined four all-conference performances by its two most decorated athletes highlighted the final day of action Saturday at the American Rivers Conference outdoor championships for the fifth-place Central College men's track and field team.
           
Totaling up 114 points, the Dutch placed fifth in the nine-team field. Wartburg College cleared by the field by 50 points with a winning total of 197 points.                                                                     
           
"Our men surprised some people," coach Brandon Sturman said. "We finished fifth overall, but we were only 11 points away from being third. We just don't have enough depth in certain areas this year."
           
Will Daniels (junior, Geneseo, Ill.) added two more all-conference efforts Saturday, giving him five for the meet. He was second in the pole vault (14 feet, 3.25 inches) and third in the 110-meter hurdles (15.09 seconds).
           
"We spread him so thin and he's able to do well in every event," Sturman said. "It was a great performance. He always competes at his best."
           
A big Saturday for Kyle Pape (senior, Dubque, Wahlert Catholic HS) merited a second-place outing in the 800-meter run (1 minute, 53.51 seconds) and a fourth-place performance in the 1,500-meter run (3:58.08). Bryant Seuferer (junior, Milo, Southeast Warren HS) was seventh in the 1500 (4:01.01).
             
"I've always said that something about being a senior at your conference meet, you find an extra power," Sturman said. "Kyle finished strong and he left everything out there on the track."
           
Other place-winners on the track for Central included Jeremy Fopma (freshman, Marion) taking fifth in the 5,000-meter run (15:09.28) and Carter Tryon (freshman, Winterset) getting seventh in the 400-meter hurdles (56.71 seconds).
           
"Carter fought hard in the hurdles," Sturman said.
           
Caleb Jennings (senior, Spirit Lake), Brock Lewis (freshman, Lathrop, Mo.), Tryon and Cory Suedmeier (junior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) were fourth in the 4x100 (42.81 seconds) while Jennings, Will DeHaan (freshman, DeWitt, Central HS), Tryon and Suedmeier were seventh in the 4x400 (3:26.74).
           
In the field events, Lewis chipped in three points by taking fifth in the triple jump (43-6) and Nathan Fitzgerald (senior, Elkader, Central HS) was seventh in the discus throw (138-4). Tanner Johnson (sophomore, Gallatin, Mo.) was sixth in the pole vault (12-11.5)
           
A select few Central athletes will compete in last chance meets next week at undetermined sites in an effort to qualify for the national meet.