WAVERLY—The Central College women's track and field team came away with two first-place finishes at the 15-team Wartburg Outdoor Select Saturday.
           
Olivia Bohlen (junior, Belle Plaine) captured the 100-meter hurdles in 14.73 seconds, a time which ranks her 12th in the NCAA Division III, on a cold, windy day not conducive to nationally competitive times.
           
"Olivia ran a great hurdles race," coach Brandon Sturman said. "It was a legal wind, too, which makes it really nice. It's a great start to the hurdles season for her again, considering the conditions we had today.
           
The foursome of Lizzy Van Utrecht (sophomore, Ottumwa, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS), Danika Arnold (freshman, Glenwood), Ava Parkins (sophomore, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame HS) and Emily McMartin (junior, Pella) won the 4x400-meter relay in 4:02.23.
           
"We were trying to change it up a little bit and we had to make a change at the end, but they ran really well," Sturman said.
           
Meanwhile on Friday, Amber Vroman (senior, Seneca, Ill.) shared first in the pole vault in 3.5 meters (11-5.75), tying Annalise Zeinemann of Northern Iowa. 

Sturman also highlighted Alivia Roerdink (sophomore, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS), who turned in a career-best time in placing second in the 400 meters in 58.95 seconds.
           
"I think the standout for the women today was Alivia," Sturman said. "She ran a lifetime best in the open 400 and then came back on one of those (4x400-meter) relays and split really well."
           
The unit of Mary Gustason (junior, Marion, Linn-Mar HS), Parkins, Arnold and McMartin took third in the 4x100-meter relay in 48.62 seconds.
           
Sturman liked his team's overall showing.
           
"It was definitely chilly but we were able to get some good stuff done," he said.
           
Central will run Friday at the Jim Duncan Invitational at the home of the Drake Relays in Des Moines Friday.
           
"It's a good meet, because it's not huge," Sturman said. "You get a couple of (Division I schools) and a couple of Division II's but nothing crazy. So it's good competition and, if the weather's nice, it's obviously a really fast track."
 
Central placwinners:
            Pole vault -- 1. (tie) Amber Vroman, 11-5.75; 5. Kylie Meyer, 10-0.75; 7. Leah Howard, 10-0.75
            4x100-meter relay—3. Mary Gustason, Ava Parkins, Danika Arnold, Emily McMartin, 48.62
            1500 meters—4. Peyton Steffen 4:39.03
            100-meter hurdles—1. Olivia Bohlen, 14.73
            100 meters—5. McMartin, 12.44
            400 meters—2. Alivia Roerdink 58.95 PR; 7. Riley Packer 1:02.34
            200 meters—7. Parkins, 25.67; 8. Gustason, 25.77
            5000 meters—5. Emma Rocha, 19:09.29
            4x400-meter relay—1. Lizzy Van Utrecht, Arnold, Parkins, McMartin, 4:02.23