MARENGO — Competing at the Gateway Challenge Saturday, Central put all seven athletes across the line before Coe College had its lead runner finish.
Saturday's race featured a 500-meter swim, 16-mile bike and 2.94 mile run. Though not officially a collegiate race, Central and Coe scored a dual meet that Central won in dominant fashion as every Dutch runner was in front of the four Kohawk entries.
"It was a fun race," coach
Jennie Hedrick-Rozenberg said. "What we did is a great testament to their dedication to their training."
Addie Koritz (freshman, Clinton, Ill.) was once again the top finisher for Central in a time of 1 hour, 18 minutes and 58 seconds.
"She went for it today and had a great race," Hedrick-Rozenberg said. "It's great to see her growth in the swim and on the bike. The possibilities for her this season are still to be determined."
Juniors
Grace Benson (Newton) and
Taylor Jones (Knoxville) were the next Central athletes to finish in 1:21.58 and 1:22.12, respectively.
"Grace pushed through some adversity and a had a great race," Hedrick-Rozenberg said. "Taylor had a great bike, she split faster per mile than any race she has does before."
Luci Laidlaw (junior, Pella) was fourth for the Dutch in 1:25.10.
"Today was by far her strongest race," Hedrick-Rozenberg said. "She wouldn't say that, but the numbers say it was. Her swim was her fastest average per mile by 20 seconds and her ran was her second fastest per mile."
Katelyn Freeman (junior, Castle Rock, Colo., Castle View HS), Estella Allen (freshman, Newton) and
Sophie Lunning (senior, Mason City) rounded out the Central lineup. Freeman crossed in 1:27.08, Allen in 1:32.34 and Lunning in 1:36.42.
"Katelyn's run was fun to watch because it was almost 50 seconds faster per mile," Hedrick-Rozenberg said. "Estella powered through her bike was 90 seconds faster than two weeks ago Sophie had a great swim and a great run."
Central will compete against a wider field of collegiate athletes at the Prairie State Cup next Saturday in Clinton, Illinois.
