PELLA — Seven individual titles and a relay crown highlighted the home Central Invitational for the Central College women's track and field team Saturday.
The Dutch earned the team title with 236.33 points, outpacing second place Truman State University's total of 158.33.
The Dutch swept the distance events.
Caroline McMartin (sophomore, Pella) won the 1,500 meters (4:53.38),
Megan Johnson (sophomore, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS) won the 3,000 meters (10:42.86) and
Alyssa Mayhew (sophomore, North Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS) won the 3,000-meter steeplechase (12:20.06). McMartin was also third in the 800 metes (2:25.95) and
Layken Bytnar (sophomore, Bettendorf) was second in the steeplechase (12:25.15)
"Competing and winning a race is just as important as improving your time," Sturman said. "Caroline is so versatile that were able to put her in different events every week."
Cali Coffman (junior, Leawood, Kan., Blue Valley) cleared the pole vault with a winning height of 9-6.25 and high jumper
Malory Jones (junior, Fairfield) was the best high jumper with a height of 4-11.
Rayna Sickels (freshman, Indianola) was the 100-meter hurdles in 15.94 seconds. She was also third in the long jump (15-6.25), one spot behind teammate
Karsyn Lamm (freshman, Mount Pleasant).
"Rayna seems to be getting faster every week," Sturman said. "She's coming along and doing it all while still training for the multi. Her potential is so high."
Abby Marr (junior, Riceville) had a career-best hammer throw mark of 156 feet, 0 inches to win the event. She also finished third in the shot put (38-1.5).
Allison Van Gorp (freshman, Pella Christian HS) was third in the discus throw (127-11).
Abby Gruver (sophomore, Sully, Lynnville-Sully HS), Abbi Roerdink (sophomore, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS),
Elsie Thoreson (sophomore, Pella) and
Lauren Brown (sophomore, Underwood) won the 4x100-meter relay in 51.43 seconds. The same four some were second in the 4x400-meter relay (4:08.69)
Roerdink was second in the 400 meters (1:00.62) and Thoreson was second in the 400-meter hurdles (1:08.60)
Central is slated to attend both the Loras Mid-Week Invitational on Wednesday and the Statesmen Invitational hosted by William Penn University on Friday.
