DUBUQUE — All six of the Central College outdoor track and field team's multi-event entries are in the top eight after the opening day of action at the American Rivers Conference Championships.

In the women's heptathlon, Krissa Larson (senior, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) is second with 2,428 points and Rayna Sickels (freshman, Indianola) is in third with 2,297 points. Larson had career-best marks in the 110-meter hurdles (15.90 seconds) and shot put (32-2) while adding a season-best time in the 200 meters (27.22 seconds). All three marks were in the top-three finishes in the field.

"She was pretty solid today," associate head coach Jim Fuller said. "She's got two of her favorite events tomorrow in the pole vault and long jump so I think she'll have a really good day tomorrow.
           
Sickels recovered from a disappointing outing in the 100-meter hurdles to keep herself near the top of the standings.
           
"She clipped a hurdle and it went south on her a little bit," Fuller said. "She rebounded from the rough start and hopefully she'll hang in there tomorrow."
           
Reid Pakkebier (freshman, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) is the best of Central's four entries in the men's decathlon, sitting third with 3,434 points.  Brody Klein (sophomore, Rainier, Wash.) and Jaxon Thompson (sophomore, Marion, Linn-Mar HS) are tied for fourth with 3,404 points. Nick Thompson (senior, Newhall, Benton HS) is seventh with 3,080 points.
           
"They all four had PRs in the 100," Fuller said. "Brody had a lifetime best in the shot put and it was Nick's best outdoor shot put. In high jump, Jaxon was the highlight because he jumped really well. Overall, the men were really pretty solid as well."

The second day of multi-event action begins Friday at 10 a.m. The rest of the league championship meet starts at 1 p.m.