DUBUQUE — Four all-conference efforts from the Central College women's track and field team has the Dutch in contention at the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships after the second day of action Friday.
Wartburg College leads the field with 85 points through eight events. Central is third with 45 points.
Krissa Larson (senior, Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) was the heptathlon runner-up with 4,082 points, matching her finish at the indoor pentathlon. She had the best javelin throw in the field (106-5) and the second-best long jump (16-2.5). Teammate
Rayna Sickels (freshman, Indianola) just missed the all-conference podium, placing fourth with 3,569 points.
"It's been a tough spring for Krissa as she's been student teaching," coach
Brandon Sturman said. "She took advantage of being a senior and having the experience to finish on a high note."
Allison Van Gorp (freshman, Pella, Pella Christian HS) broke through in the discus throw with a third-place toss of 131-2. She was also eighth in the shot put in 40-6.25
"We've known Allison had a lot of potential," Sturman said. "She's just kept grinding and we're excited about her future."
Malory Jones (junior, Fairfield) cleared the high jump bar at 5-5 and finished third.
"Malory has had her ups and downs but she was able to enjoy the day today," Sturman said. "We know she has the ability and she was able to really focus and put it all together."
Overcoming a fall late in the race,
Caroline McMartin (sophomore, Pella) was third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 11:00.28.
Megan Johnson (sophomore, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS) was seventh in 11:36.35
"Her fall cost her almost 10 seconds but she still was able to PR by over nine seconds," Sturman said. "We think she's done enough to qualify for nationals but we'll give it another shot at last chance meets next week."
Hailey Hill (junior, Las Vegas, Nevada, West Career and Technical Academy) was sixth in the 10,000 meters in 39:39.82. The quartet of
Abby Alberti (sophomore, Harlan), Alyssa Mayhew (sophomore, North Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS), Lauren Coon (junior, Oskaloosa) and
Natalie Patterson (sophomore, Lone Tree HS) was sixth in the 4x800-meter relay in 9:58.23
Four Dutch runners qualified for finals on Saturday:
Abby Gruver (sophomore, Sully, Lynnville-Sully HS) in the 400 hurdles (4th – 1:06.04),
Abbi Roerdink (sophomore, Tiffin, Hopewell-Loudon HS) in the 400 meters (4th – 58.22),
Lauren Brown (sophomore, Underwood) in the 400 meters (8th – 1:00.25) and Sickels in the 100 hurdles (8th – 16.19)
The third and final day of the conference meet starts Saturday morning at 10 a.m. with field events. The running events start at 1:30 p.m.
