PELLA — Hosting the first pentathlon meet of 2022, Central College athletes topped the women's and fields field Friday afternoon.
           
Reid Pakkebier (freshman, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) was the top finisher on the men's side with 3,196 points and Krissa Larson (senior, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) had the best score in the women's competition with 2,764 points. Brody Klein (sophomore, Rainier, Wash.) was runner-up to Pakkebier with 3,178 points. Rayna Sickels (freshman, Indianola) was second behind Larson with 2,490 points.
           
"The best part of the day was that all four felt pretty good at the end," associate head coach Jim Fuller said. "They're a little tired and sore but it was a good start."
           
Pakkebier had the best 60-meter hurdles time in the five-man field, clocking in at 9.02 seconds and the best shot put (35 feet, 5.25 inches). Klein paced the field in the long jump (21-1.25), 1,000-meter run (3 minutes, 1.62 seconds) and shared the best high jump mark (6-1.75).
           
"Reid and Brody were very good today," Fuller said. "They go through an incredibly long football season and they didn't do any work with us before Christmas. We've had four days of practice. I thought Brody jumped really well. Reid is just a really competitive athlete and he just works at it. He's got room for improvement."
           
Larson topped the other four competitors in women's field in the long jump (15-11) and 60-meter hurdles (9.91 seconds). Sickels had second-place finishes in the hurdles (10.22) and high jump (4-8.25)
           
"They both did some things well," Fuller said. "All of our women, including and Karsyn and Taryn, can have success. They just need to stay healthy and keep going."
           
Central will host the Dutch Athletics Classic Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.