ROCK ISLAND, ILL. – A slew of strong performances Wednesday and Thursday at the Augustana Midwest Twilight Qualifier increased the number of anticipated national qualifiers for the Central College men's and women's track and field teams.
No team scores were kept at the meet featuring competitors from over 100 different institutions across the country. With the deadline for national qualifying marks set for Thursday night, Central was looking to get as many individuals in the top 22 and relays inside the top 16 to clinch their spots at next weekend's NCAA Division III Championships.
The women's 4x400-meter relay team of
Lizzy Van Utrecht (freshman, Ottumwa, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS),
Ava Parkins (freshman, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame [Iowa] HS), Emily McMartin (sophomore, Pella) and
Abbi Roerdink (freshman, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS) finished fifth and improved upon their season best time by just over a second and are No. 14 at 3:48.13.
A week after making a sensational return to competition coming off a severe injury suffered during the Dutch football season,
Brody Klein (senior, Rainier, Wash.) won the men's pole vault after clearing 15 feet, 1 inch. He skipped straight to a height of 16-0.75 in an effort to qualify but missed all three attempts.
Gunner Meyer (sophomore, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) had a pair of top-10 finishes Thursday, taking sixth in the men's 110-meter hurdles (14.47 seconds) and ninth in the men's high jump (6-4.75).
Kira Hooper (junior, Henderson, N.C., Citrus Valley HS) was sixth in the women's 5,000 meters (18:28.10) and
Kaleb Brand (senior, Mount Vernon) was eighth in the men's 400 meters (48.54 seconds).
Kate Hoogensen (senior, Ankeny, Centennial HS) finished ninth in the women's 1,500 meters Thursday in 5:19.51 for a new personal best. She also had a new career-best time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Wednesday night in 11:38.37.
Distance crew shines on Wednesday night – The Dutch distance runners definitively added three Wednesday night and are hoping for a fourth to join at next weekend's national meet.
Leaving no doubt about her qualification,
Addison Parrott (junior, Danville) won the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:36.24. She entered the day No. 20 on the list but moved all the way up to No. 8 with her new time.
"She controlled the race from the start," associate head coach
Joe Dunham said. "She wasn't happy with her steeplechase race at the conference meet last weekend. For her to turn things around so quickly speaks to the type of runner she is."
In the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase, both
Jack Brown (freshman, Norwalk) and
Caleb Silver (fifth year, Conrad, BCLUW HS) improved their qualifying slot. Brown finished third in 8:57.40 and Silver was sixth in 9:00.08. Brown is solidly into the field of 22 but Silver is hoping to hold on to the 22nd spot.
"Jack is a special runner," Dunham said. "What he did tonight was absolutely remarkable. I can't wait for next weekend to see him at the NCAA championships.
"Caleb ran a smart race. They went through the first 1000 a little slow and he had to take the lead and get the rhythm a little faster. Regardless of if he gets in to the national meet, he's been an incredible leader for our program and I just can't say enough about the impact he has had here."
Finishing second in the invitational division of the women's 1,500 meters, sophomore
Peyton Steffen (Marion) finished second in 4:29.05 and moved up to the No. 16 spot on the qualifying list.
"She had to do that all by herself the first 1000 meters of the race," Dunham said. "She had a little help at the end of the race and that made all the difference."
Central will find out which individuals and relays officially qualify for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships Friday night.
