MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — In day full of preliminary races Thursday, the Central College track and field team advanced five individuals into final upcoming final heats at the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships.

All three women's 3,000-meter steeplechase runners qualified for Friday night's final, paced by Megan Johnson (senior, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS) who led every lap in the first heat to qualify first in 10 minutes, 27.46 seconds. Caroline McMartin (senior, Pella) qualified second (10:27.90) in the same heat as Johnson while
Addison Parrott (junior, Danville) qualified seventh (10:34.02) out of the second heat.

"It's great to see them all get into the finals," coach Brandon Sturman said. "They looked strong and we're excited for tomorrow night."

Central pushed a fourth female distance runner into a final as Peyton Steffen (sophomore, Marion) qualified third for the women's 1,500-meter race final in a time of 4:32.11.

"She was up front the whole time and looked smooth and relaxed," Sturman said.

The distance crew's success continued into the men's 1,500 meters as Noah Jorgenson (senior, Sidney) won the opening heat in 3:53.49 to qualify for the final in seventh place.

"He wanted to sit a little bit and kick and that's what he did," Sturman said. "He felt confident and didn't have to work too hard to win that heat."

Olivia Bohlen (sophomore, Belle Plaine) is 13th with 2,837 points through four events of the women's heptathlon.

 "She's right on par with her lifetime best," Sturman said. "She's sitting pretty good."

Gavin Smith (sophomore, Audubon) leads the four Dutch decathletes with 3,358 points in 14th place through five events.

"Gavin set himself up well after the high jump," Sturman said. "He's a day two guy so if he can finish like he has in previous decathlons he's in a good spot."

Also in the decathlon, Reid Pakkebier (junior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) is 16th (3,358 points), Gage Huyser (sophomore, Pella) is 18th (3,318 points) and Kale Hobart (freshman, Mason City) is 20th (3,291 points)

The Dutch women's 4x400-meter relay of Lizzy Van Utrecht (freshman, Ottumwa, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS), Ava Parkins (sophomore, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame [Iowa] HS), Emily McMartin (sophomore, Pella) and Abbi Roerdink (senior, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS) were 13th in the prelims in 3:51.77.

"We would have loved to make the final but you take advantage of the opportunities you have and take the good with the bad," Sturman said. "I'm super excited for the three coming back next year to have this experience and use it as motivation for the future"

Making his national meet debut, Jack Brown (freshman, Norwalk) started strong in the 3,000-meter steeplechase but slipped to 21st in a time of 9:29.44 after colliding with another runner going over the water jump."
           
Another full day of action for the Dutch starts at noon (EST) with the 110-meter hurdles of the men's decathlon.