VIRGINIA BEACH, VA.—Posting its second-highest national indoor team finish ever, the Central College women's track and field squad placed 13th at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday.
           
Meanwhile, the Dutch men got an all-America performance from Noah Jorgenson (senior, Sidney) in the men's mile. Central tied for 38th in the men's team standings with five points while competing at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in the meet hosted by Norfolk State University (Va.). The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse was the men's team champion with 74 with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire second at 52.
           
Central's women put up 15 points. American Rivers rival Loras College pulled out the title with 51 points, edging Washington University-St. Louis (Mo.), which had 49. It was Central's highest indoor meet finish since placing 12th in 2002.
           
"Our goal was to be in the top 20," coach Brandon Sturman said. "I'm really happy that we got 13th. I don't know if there's much else we could have done to get more points. We can hopefully build off of this outdoors."
           
The Dutch picked up three more all-America awards for the day and had eight for the weekend. For the women, Caroline McMartin (senior, Pella) was eighth in 4:54.94 in the women's mile and Megan Johnson (senior, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS) finished sixth in the 3,000 meters in 9:38.13.
           
It was McMartin's third race in a little more than 24 hours, making Saturday an exhausting race.
           
"It probably wasn't the race she wanted but she still ran well," Sturman said. "She wasn't that far off her PR so I'm really happy with how she ran and I hope she's proud of it. She's an all-American so we're going to leave here with our heads held high, then kind of reset and try to do it again outdoors."
           
Johnson surged again late in the race as she did in Friday's distance medley relay.
           
"Her goal, according to (associate head coach Joe Dunham) was just to kind of keep herself in the mix, run relaxed and then have a big second half and that's exactly what she did," Sturman said. "She's always been a big finisher."
           
It was the third indoor all-American award for both runners. Both had helped the Dutch place in each of the past two seasons in the distance medley relay.                                                   
           
Central also picked up an additional honor as Abbi Roerdink (senior, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS) was awarded USTFCCCA second-team all-America honors for placing 12th in the 400 meters Friday.
           
Jorgenson gained indoor all-America distinction for the second time, after helping Central place in the distance medley relay a year ago. After taking the early lead in the mile Saturday, he dropped back, but was able to pass some runners near the finish to take fourth in 4:07.01.
           
"Noah ran great," Sturman said. "To have two races under his legs, he still went out aggressive and did his thing. They came back and reeled him in but then he was able to fight through it and finish strong. I think it just goes to prove that he's put in the work and he deserved every point he got for our team. I was real happy with how he did this weekend overall and how he competed."
           
Central's Gunner Meyer (sophomore, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) also competed in the high jump Saturday. After soaring to 6 feet, 9.5 inches earlier this season, Meyer placed 16th at 1.94 meters (6-4.25).
           
"I think it was just a good experience for him to get here, transferring in and trusting in us that that was our goal," Sturman said. "He had some really good attempts, it's not like he was jumping bad, but just a little nick here or there and the bar comes down. I was just happy that he could be here."
           
The Dutch open the men's and women's outdoor season Thursday, March 28 with the 11 a.m. Central Invitational at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.
           
"The rest of the kids who aren't here are hopefully doing what they need to do and we can hit the ground running when we get back," Sturman said. "And hopefully the kids here can take the next of spring break to kind of reset and try to get geared back up on March 28 and try to build off this momentum to finish the outdoor season on a high note."