PELLA — Missing several of its key point-scoring athletes, the Central College men's track and field team was fourth at the Spartan Invitational Saturday.
           
The University of Dubuque won its home invitational with 232 points. Central trailed with 49 points while missing most of its field event athletes.
           
"We had a lot of people out because of sickness or because they competed in the multi-event the last few days," coach Brandon Sturman said. "We didn't have an entries in most of the field events or the hurdles. It goes to show we still have some depth even without those athletes and their events."
           
On the track, Adam Sylvia (senior, Rochester, Mass., Old Rochester HS) had Central's only individual title by winning the 3,000-meter run, clocking in at 8 minutes, 43.19 seconds.
           
"It was a phenomenal race by Adam," Sturman said. "He's been a leader as an upperclassmen. We're excited about where he is at right now."
           
In other distance events, Cutler Owens (fifth year, Runnells, Southeast Polk HS) was third in the mile (4:31.66) and Caleb Silver (senior, Conrad, BCLUW HS) was in fourth (4:35.03).
           
"The whole distance group did really good and had a lot of PRs," Sturman said.
           
Theo Baldus (fifth year, St. Ansgar) was Central's highest-scoring field event athlete, improving his season-best mark to 54 feet, 11.5 inches in a third-place finish. He is up to No. 40 in Division III in the event.
           
"Going to nationals is definitely a goal for him," Sturman said. "He just continues working hard and inching his way toward that goal. He just needs one throw."
           
Central's only other top-five individual performance was Brian Hart (sophomore, Norwalk) taking fifth in the 200-meter dash (23.51 seconds).

Central travels to the Wartburg Select meet next Friday and Saturday in Waverly.