DUBUQUE — The Dr. Tucker Open hosted Saturday by Loras College provided the Central College track and field athletes a chance to prepare themselves one last time for next weekend's American Rivers Conference Outdoor Championships.

No team scores were kept. Central did not send a full roster.

"There were some really good things today for the athletes that came and competed," coach Brandon Sturman said. "They did what they needed to do to in order to set themselves up for conference next weekend.
           
Lauren Brown (sophomore, Underwood) became the second Central female to break the 60-second mark in the 400-meter dash this season, placing third in 59.36 seconds
           
"She was amazing in that race," Sturman said. "Hopefully she can run even faster at conference,"
           
Brown also anchored the fourth place 4x400-meter relay team, finishing in 4:00.63. She was joined by Abbi Roerdink (sophomore, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS), Abby Gruver (sophomore, Sully, Lynnville-Sully HS) and Elsie Thoreson (sophomore, Pella). The quartet dropped eight seconds off their previous best mark.
           
Noah Jorgenson (sophomore, Sidney) was fifth in a loaded 800-meter run field. His time of 1:51.67 is in the top-20 nationally.
           
"He ran really well," Sturman said. "He at least put himself in the conversation for nationals."
           
Connor Miklos (sophomore, Lockport, Ill., Providence Catholic HS) was fourth in the 110-meter hurdles (16.00 seconds).

In the throwing events, Central men had four top-four finishes. Thomas Spoehr (senior, Bennington, Neb.) was third in the shot put (48-0.75). Theo Baldus (senior, St. Ansgar) was third in the discus throw (150-9) and hammer throw (166-2). Martin Vineyard (junior, Farmington, Central Lee HS) was fourth in the javelin throw (131-10).

The women's throwers added four more top-four finishes. Allison Van Gorp (freshman, Pella, Pella Christian HS) was second in the discus throw (130-0) and fourth in the shot put (40-11.5). Abby Marr (junior, Riceville) was third in the hammer throw (148-0) and Alyssa Streigel (freshman, Mount Pleasant) was third in the discus throw (130-0).
           
Central returns to Dubuque for the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships Thursday to Sunday.