PELLA— A statement-making debut to Central College's indoor track and field season helped yield individual honors from the American Rivers Conference.
           
Track and field athletes Peyton Steffen (junior, Marion), Amber Vroman (junior, Seneca, IIl.) and Kale Purcell (senior, Holton, Kan.) were cited, along with women's wrestler Macy Litherland (freshman, Geneseo, Ill.).
           
Steffen was tabbed as the women's track athlete of the week after racing ahead of a field that included Division I competitors to win the 3,000 meters at the Iowa State Holiday Invitational Saturday in 9 minutes, 40.35 seconds. That's the fastest time in the NCAA Division III this season.
           
Vroman was named the women's field athlete of the week after breaking her own indoor school record in winning the pole vault at 11 feet, 3.75 inches in the Dutch Holiday Preview Friday at Pella,
           
Purcell was the men's field athlete of the week following his personal-best effort in winning the triple jump at Iowa State, going 47-4.5. He was the lone Division III competitor in the field and his effort ranks third in Division III.
           
Litherland posted a two-minute fall at 160 pounds in Central's 24-21 dual meet setback at Cornell College Friday night. The Dutch will take on Cornell again Friday, Jan. 3 as part of the Central Duals at H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse.
           
Central's track and field squads are off until the Dutch Athletics Classic Jan. 17.