INDIANOLA—Large fields with NCAA Division I athletes made up the competition for the Central College track and field teams at the Kip Janvrin Open Thursday and Friday.

There are no team scores at the Kip Janvrin Open as most teams are split sending athletes between there and the Drake Relays.

Running the third-fastest men's 3,000-meter steeplechase race in program history, Jack Brown (freshman, Norwalk) was first of 41 entries in a time of 9 minutes, 13.33 seconds.

"He's inching himself closer to getting into nationals," coach Brandon Sturman said. "He's continuing to learn and develop. Every time he does something new, he gets better at it."

Abby Gruver (senior, Sully, Lynnville-Sully HS) was fourth in the women's 400-meter hurdles, crossing the line in 1:06.09.

Central had a pair of top-five finishes in the men's javelin throw. Gavin Smith (sophomore, Audubon) was third with a toss of 151-6. Jaxon Thompson (senior, Marion, Linn-Mar HS) was fourth at 149-2. Gracie Pierson (junior, Lake City, Minn.) was fifth in the women's javelin throw at 106-2.

Thompson had another top-five finish in the men's pole vault after clearing 13-9.25.

"He vaulted in bad conditions for the second week in a row," Sturman said. "He can definitely help us out at conference even if he doesn't do the multi.:

Women's long jumpers Jasmyn Williams (sophomore, Denver, Colo., Arvada West HS) and Karlee Warnke (Primghar, South O'Brien HS) both had huge improvements over their previous outdoors season-best marks. Williams finished second in 17-5.5 and Warnke was fifth in 16-8.75.

"That's a big jump for Karlee," Sturman said. "She's been getting better every week; we just haven't been able to get one when it counted. She broke the five-meter barrier, which is big for a freshman coming into college."

In the women's 800-meter run, Alyssa Mayhew (senior, North Aurora, Ill., West Aurora HS) was eighth in 2:21.15 and Alivia Roerdink (freshman, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS) was ninth in 2:21.56. Allison Van Gorp (junior, Pella, Pella Christian HS) was 10th in the women's discus throw with a toss of 121-10.

Central has three remaining entries at the Drake Relays Saturday morning.