ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS — A handful of Central College men's and women's track and field team several athletes put themselves in much better position for next weekend's NCAA Division III Championships with their marks at the Midwest Twilight Qualifier Thursday

No team scores were kept at the meet.

Improving upon his previous best mark of the season in the men's discus throw by over 10 feet, Theo Baldus (fifth year, St. Ansgar) is set to make a return to the national meet after finishing 10th with a throw of 167 feet, 3 inches.

"He was motivated and felt good," coach Brandon Sturman said. "It's exiting that he was able to pull off another big throw. He had a good series and got better each time."

On the track, Noah Jorgenson (junior, Sidney) crossed the line in 1:50.42 in the 800-meter run, taking fifth place. He shaved off just enough time to be position to qualify pending any additional results from the West Coast.  

"I think he'll be right on the bubble," Sturman said "We have a good feeling he's going to be in. That half a second he dropped tonight we'll help him a lot."

Addison Parrott (sophomore, Danville) was fifth in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 10:56.70. Adam Sylvia (senior, Rochester, Mass., Old Rochester HS) was seventh in the men's 1,500 meters in 3:47.67. Both are awaiting potential scratches in front of them to see if they will make the cut. Sylvia took the school record away from Jorgenson.

Mary Gustason (Marion, Linn-Mar HS), Olivia Bohlen (Belle Plaine), Abbi Roerdink (junior, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS) and Emily McMartin (Pella) dropped .10 seconds off their best time of the season, finishing 9th in 47.73 seconds. Roerdink also finished eighth individually in the 400-meter dash in 57.79 seconds. McMartin had a season-best 200-meter dash time of 25.51 seconds.

"It's been a long year, especially for those freshmen," Sturman said. "They've been challenged by some of the best runners in the country and they've been consistently competing."

The indoor national champion in the men's high jump, Sam Beatty (senior, Mount Pleasant), took second place by clearing 6-6. That mark is not an improvement on his season best and he will likely be on the outside looking in for a spot at the national meet.

"It was an awesome career," Sturman said. "It's unfortunate he didn't qualify but sometimes it just doesn't fall your way. He'll leave a long legacy behind."
           
In the men's javelin throw, Luke Pavlat (fifth year, Pella) was seventh with a toss of 156-9. Women's discus thrower Alyssa Streigel (senior, Mount Pleasant) was 14th with a career-best toss of 138-10. Men's triple jumper Kale Purcell (sophomore, Holton, Kan.) was 10th in 42-11.5

Official start lists for the NCAA Division III Championships next weekend in Rochester, New York will be released on Friday.