DES MOINES — The barrage of broken records for the Central College women's track and field's distance crew continued Friday at Drake Relays in the 4x1600-meter relay.
The record was the fourth new record in races over 1,500 meters set this outdoor season. An additional five records were broken indoors.
Megan Johnson (junior, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS),
Peyton Steffen (freshman, Marion),
Sara Goodenbour (sophomore, Cedar Falls) and
Caroline McMartin (junior, Pella) crossed the line in 20 minutes, 41.75 seconds, beating the old record by 37 seconds. Seven of the 10 teams in the field were NCAA Division I programs.
"It's exciting to set another school record," coach
Brandon Sturman said. "That group has accomplished a lot throughout the season."
The women's 4x100-meter relay team of
Mary Gustason (freshman, Marion, Linn-Mar HS),
Abbi Roerdink (junior, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS),
Willa Sickelka (freshman, Primghar, South O'Brien HS) and
Emily McMartin (freshman, Pella) ran a season-best time of 48.54 to take 11th in the prelims.
Roerdink,
Abby Gruver (Sully, Lynnville-Sully HS),
Olivia Bohlen (freshman, Belle Plaine) and
Lauren Brown (junior, Underwood) were 14th in the women's 4x400-meter relay in 4:01.47, also a season-best mark. Gustason, Sickelka, Bohlen, McMartin were 16th in the women's 4x200-meter relay in 1:43.92
"Those times are in the 4x100 and 4x400 are going to help us as we move towards conference," Sturman said. "They could get us a better lane in the 4x400 or into the fast heat of the 4x400."
The men also ran the 4x1600-meter relay and
Noah Jorgenson (junior, Sidney),
Adam Sylvia (senior, Rochester, Mass., Old Rochester HS),
Ben DeValk (sophomore, Solon) and
Caleb Silver (senior, Conrad, BCLUW HS) were 10th in 17:18.34.
"Noah had a late night Thursday and then doubled back this morning," Sturman said. "I was proud of what they accomplished."
In the field events,
Sam Beatty (senior, Mount Pleasant) tied for ninth in the men's high jump after clearing 6 feet, 6.75 inches.
Kale Purcell (sophomore, Holton, Kan.) was 12th in the triple jump with a mark of 44-6.75
"Sam has been stuck at that spot for a little bit," Sturman said. "We're confident in his ability and know he can get back to where he's been before. The mark doesn't show it but Kale jumped well. He just had trouble getting on the board. He was really exited to jump at Drake."
The men's 4x200-meter relay team of
Connor Miklos (junior, Lockport, Ill., Providence Catholic HS), Jackson Moats (junior, Bettendorf, Pleasant Valley HS), Brian Hart (sophomore, Norwalk) and
AC Carson (freshman, Winfield, Mo.) finished 18th in 1:29.72
"I was happy with how we ran," Sturman said. "It was a good experience for them to be on the blue oval."
The men's shuttle hurdle relay team is set to close out Central's Drake Relays appearance at 12:08 p.m. Saturday.
