DECORAH — At the halfway mark Thursday, all five Central College track and field athletes entered in the multi-events of the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships are in position to score and improve their national qualification standing.

Olivia Bohlen (freshman, Belle Plaine) is in first place through four events in the heptathlon with 2,662 points. Bohlen was a second and half faster and 180 points better than the rest of the field in the 100-meter hurdles (15.33 seconds). She had the second-best high jump (4-9.75) and 200-meter dash (26.58 seconds) and third-best high shot put (32-9) in the 11-woman field.

"She usually runs faster when she has people to race, too," associate head coach Jim Fuller said. "She had a really good jump in her last bar and just couldn't duplicate it at the height she missed. I was really happy with her having a PR in the shot put as well."

Brody Klein (junior, Rainier, Wash.) and Reid Pakkebier (sophomore, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) are first and second through five events of the men's decathlon. Klein has 3,494 points and Pakkebier has 3,409 points. Klein won the high jump (6-4) while Pakkebier won the 100-meter dash (11.25 seconds) and long jump (21-5.5).

"Brody had a huge PR in the high jump," "That was important for him. He got a little tight at the end of the 400. Reid had good solid 100 and long jump. Reid was good in everything. He didn't have any great things."

Lucas Heitz (senior, Adel, ADM HS) is in fifth with 3,244 points with most of his better events on the schedule for day two.

"He struggled a little in the long jump and that hurt him a little," Fuller said. "He recovered to high jump well. He's a good day two guy. He vaults, hurdles and throws well. He will have a chance to catch some people on day two."

Gavin Smith (freshman, Audubon) has Central in position for four scorers, sitting in sixth with 3,206 points.
           
"Gavin had a PR in the 100 and the long jump," Fuller said. "He struggled in the shot put  with it slipping on the first throw and fouling on the second one. He had to back off on his final throw so he didn't foul twice

The second day of action at the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships starts at 10 a.m.