DUBUQUE — A still youthful Central College women's track and field team scored in a variety of events Saturday at the American Rivers Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Central finished in sixth with 45.5 team points. Loras College was the team champion with 193.
"We knew this would be challenging year after losing a lot of points from last year's meet," coach
Brandon Sturman said. "We're also in the toughest conference in the country. We need to keep our heads up and keep working. We're a young team and we can make some strides outdoors.
In the field events,
Abby Marr (junior, Riceville) was fourth in the weight throw (52 feet, 11 inches) and
Malory Jones (junior, Fairfield) tied for sixth in the high jump (5-1.25).
"Abby had a great meet," Sturman said. "Her mark probably wasn't exactly what she wanted but everybody in front of her will also go to the national meet with her."
The quartet of
Lauren Brown (sophomore, Underwood),
Elsie Thoreson (sophomore, Pella),
Abby Gruver (sophomore, Sully, Lynnville-Sully HS) and
Abbi Roerdink (sophomore, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS) closed out the meet with a fifth-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay in 4:06.23.
Brown added an eighth-place finish in the 400-meter run in 1:00.70
"Lauren was a great example of continuing to work hard and getting it done," Sturman said.
The 4x800-meter relay squad
of Lauren Coon (junior, Oskaloosa), Alyssa Mayhew (sophomore, North Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS), Natalie Patterson (sophomore, Lone Tree) and
Sara Goodenbour (freshman, Cedar Falls) was also fifth in 10:10.22
Caroline McMartin (sophomore, Pella) was sixth in the mile run (5:09.62) and
Megan Johnson (sophomore, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS) was sixth in the 3,000-meter run (10:26.71)
"It was a lifetime best for Caroline on a front track in the mile," Sturman said. "It was just such a loaded field. You can't ask her to do anymore."
A select group of Central athletes will compete at the Wartburg Qualifier next Friday and Saturday in Waverly.
