STORM LAKE — Boosted by a high-scoring distance crew, the Central College women's track and field team finished third at the American Rivers Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.
The Dutch totaled 79.5 points, including 52 on day two to take third place. It's the program's first top-three finish since 2016. Loras College won the title with 211.5 points.
"Coming into the meet, I had a feeling we could get third," coach
Brandon Sturman said. "A lot of things came together for us. We bounced back after the first day and competed well."
Caroline McMartin (junior, Pella) had podium finishes in both the mile and 3,000-meter races. She was second in the mile (4 minutes, 57.50 seconds) and third in the 3000 (10:14.38).
"Caroline did great," Sturman said. "We know what she can do and she keeps proving it week in and week out. We're looking forward to the next few weeks for her."
The 4x800-meter relay squad of
Leah Bontrager (freshman, Wellman, Hillcrest Academy),
Lauren Coon (senior, Oskaloosa), Riley Packer (freshman, Erie, Ill.) and
Peyton Steffen (freshman, Marion) crossed the line in third in 9:39.63. All four earned all-conference accolades.
Megan Johnson (junior, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS) also scored in the mile (fourth – 5:01.68) and the 3000 meters (fifth – 10:19.93). Steffen was fifth in the 800-meter run (2:20.27). Bontrager eighth in the mile (5:12.09) and
Addison Parrott (sophomore, Danvillle) was eighth in the 3000 (10:28.71).
"Coach Dunham has done a great job of developing the women's distance runners," Sturman said. "It started during cross country. Anytime you can score at a conference meet as deep ours is an unbelievable accomplishment."
Emily McMartin (freshman, Pella) just missed the podium in the 200-meter dash, taking fourth in 25.95 seconds. Classmate
Willa Sickelka (Primghar, South O'Brien HS) was sixth in 26.11 seconds. Another freshman,
Olivia Bohlen (Belle Plaine), took fifth in the 60-meter hurdles finals in 9.27 seconds.
Weight thrower
Abby Marr (senior, Riceville) reached a mark of 54 feet, 7.5 inches to place sixth.
Abbi Roerdink (junior, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS) clocked a 400-meter dash in 59.32 seconds to place eighth.
"
We took advantage of some spots where we were on the bubble and did some special things," Sturman said. "
Lauren Brown (junior, Underwood), Sickelka,
Abby Gruver (junior, Sully, Lynnville-Sully HS) and Roerdink were fourth in the 4x400-meter relay in a time of 4:04.82.
A handful of athletes will compete at the Wartburg Qualifier on March 3 and March 4. The NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships are set for Friday, March 10 and Saturday, March 11 in Birmingham, Alabama.
"Hopefully we can use this and continue to build off of it as we move forward," Sturman said.
