PELLA—Competing in a mammoth 35-team field, the No. 23-ranked Central College women's cross country team placed eighth at the Roy Griak Invitational Saturday, two spots better than a year ago.
           
The field is largely comprised of NCAA Division II and NAIA schools. Augustana College (S.D.) won with 80 points while the University of Mary (N.D.) was second with 106 and Wayne State University (Mich.) was third with 133. Central finished with 217 points and  was the best of four NCAA Division III entrants. Grinnell College was 17th with 532 points, Luther College was 18th with 562 and Clarke University was 27th with 753.
           
Central's Caroline McMartin (senior, Pella) was 13th individually in 22:50.0 on the 6,000-meter course after placing 19th in 23:17 in last year's meet.
           
"Caroline had a great race," coach Joe Dunham said. "She got out pretty aggressively today and I think it was a really good effort by her."
           
Megan Johnson (senior, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS) was 16th in 22:52.9.
           
"Megan had a really good race, too," Dunham said. "She ran well."
          
Addison Parrott (junior, Danville) was 49th in 23:53.4, Lindsey Davidson (senior, Northwood, Northwood-Kensett HS) was 69th in 24:14.8, a 55-second improvement over a year ago, and Peyton Steffen (sophomore, Marion) finished 82nd in 24:26.9.
           
"I thought Addy Parrott ran really well and Lindsey Davidson had a phenomenal race, really building on what she's capable of doing," Dunham said. "She really competed. She ran smart. She looks like she's having a lot of fun out there."
           
Steffen ran 49 seconds faster than last year.
           
"Peyton had a little bit of a breakout race today," Dunham said. "I think she felt good about it, but not great, so that's a good sign for the direction she's moving."
           
Central's other two varsity finishers were Leah Bontrager (sophomore, Wellman, Hillcrest Academy), who was 115th in 24:53.8 and Kira Hooper (junior, Henderson, N.C., Citrus Valley HS), who was 143rd in 25:16.3, a 31-second jump.
           
"I think the team was very competitive today, even though they weren't feeling the best," Dunham said. "They competed really hard. That's the sign of a mature team."
           
The Dutch compete again next Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Dan Huston Invitational in Waverly. Central hasn't raced in that meet since 2019 which is hosted by No. 2-rated Wartburg College. It's also the site of the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Nov. 11.
           
"It'll be exciting for our team to get up there and get a chance to run that course and get it know it a little bit more," Dunham said.