INDIANOLA — The return of positive weather conditions and tough competition pushed the Central College track and field team to high-level marks throughout the roster Thursday at the Kip Janvrin Open.

There were no team scores kept at the meet. The annual meet is held in conjunction with the Drake Relays in Des Moines and gives over 60 different teams from across all levels of collegiate track and field, including NCAA Division I, an additional opportunity to compete in Central Iowa.

Abbi Roerdink (junior, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS) broke the 58-second mark in the women's 400-meter dash for the first time in her career, placing eighth in 57.95 seconds. In the men's 400 meters, Kaleb Brand (junior, Mount Vernon) was sixth in 49.04 seconds and Noah Erickson (junior, Mount Vernon) was ninth in 49.89 seconds.

"For Abbi, she was running well at the end of the indoor season," coach Brandon Sturman said. "It was about getting back to that point and building her confidence back up. Those two guys have been pushing each other. I'm excited about their development."

Noah Jorgenson (junior, Sidney) ran the final event of the night at 10 p.m. and his 5,000-meter run time of 14:39.85 earned him a sixth-place finish. He moved up to No. 4 on Central's all-time list.

"The whole distance crew had a pretty good night," Sturman said. "He capped off the whole day in the fast heat of the 5K."

Amber Vroman (sophomore, Seneca, Ill.)  had a new outdoor personal best in the women's pole vault, clearing 10 feet, 11.75 inches and placing fourth. Teammate Cali Coffman was sixth with a clearance of 10-0.

"She continues to do what she did indoors," Sturman said. "She's literally raising the bar and is creeping in on another school record."

Lucas Heitz (senior, Adel, ADM HS) had a slight personal best in the men's 110-meter hurdles, taking 12th in 14.89 seconds. He remains No. 10 on Central's top-10 list.
            
In the first competitive long jump of her life, freshman Jasmyn Williams (Denver, Colo, Arvada West HS) hit a mark of 17-1.5, placing 13th.

In the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, Addison Parrott (sophomore, Danville) placed sixth in 11:32.89, shaving a few seconds off her previous fastest time.

Central also had top-15 finishes from both a female and male in the 400-meter hurdles. Abby Gruver (junior, Sully, Lynnville-Sully HS) was 12th in the women's race in 1:07.61. Gavin Smith (freshman, Audubon) was 14th in the men's race in 57.25 seconds.

The results from Thursday's throwing events were not made available, yet. Central will have two men's javelin throwers competing back at the Kip Janvrin Open on Friday. The Dutch also have eight entries at the Drake Relays in Des Moines on Friday.