CRETE, NEB. — Completing their first multi-events of the season, Central College track and field athletes won the women's heptathlon and the men's decathlon Thursday and Friday at the John Green Combined Events hosted by Doane University (Neb.)
Olivia Bohlen (sophomore, Belle Plaine) completed the seven events with a winning total of 4,7437 points.
Reid Pakkebier (junior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) scored 6,482 points to win the decathlon. Four other Central athletes were competing in their first career outdoor multi competition.
"Overall, this was a great meet," assistant coach
Aaron Fuller said. "Doane cares about the mutli-events like we do and puts on a tremendous meet. It's a great experience for our athletes and we are leaving happy.
Bohlen's big meet has her No. 4 on Central's all-time list and likely already qualified for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the end of May. She had the best 100-meter hurdles time (14.83 seconds), long jump mark (17-10.25) and shot put (36-10.5) in the field.
"Olivia had a great weekend," Fuller said. "She had two event PR's each day. She's worked hard and made great improvements."
Other Central women to compete were
Karsyn Lamm (junior, Mount Pleasant) finishing 13th with 3,515 points and
Sage Austin (freshman, Carlisle), who was 15th with 2,213 points but only attempted five events.
Pakkebier had the field's best 110-meter hurdles (15.30 seconds), discus throw (117-7), long jump (22-0.75) and shot put (40-8.25). He cracked into Central's top-10 list in the final spot.
"Reid showed a lot of experience and put together a really strong two days," Fuller said. "He's put himself in a great spot moving into the championship season."
Freshman Kale Hobart (Mason City) and sophomore Gage Huyser (Pella) were second (6,431 points) and third (6,193 points), respectively.
"Kale is learning a lot right now," Fuller said. "This was fantastic for his first-ever decathlon. We are excited about where he can go moving forward.
The rest of Central's team is competing at the Meet of Champions hosted by Augustana College (Ill.) on Friday and Saturday.
