DECORAH — For the first time since 2015, the Central College women's track and field team finished runner-up at the American Rivers Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday.

Central totaled 149.5 points, the program's highest total since the 2015 meet. Wartburg College was the team champion with 216 points.

Peyton Steffen (senior, Marion) was the lone individual champion for the Dutch women, finishing first in the 3,000-meter run in 9 minutes, 53.69 seconds. Maddy Stevens (freshman, Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) finished third in the same race (10:09.51). Steffen was also second in the mile (4:54.53)

Olivia Bohlen (senior, Belle Plaine) added a pair of top three individual finishes. She was second in the 60-meter hurdles (8.77 seconds) and third in the high jump (5 feet, 2.25 inches).

Bohlen was the anchor of the runner-up team in the 4x400-meter relay, joined by Alivia Roerdink (junior, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS), Olivia Phillips (freshman, St. Charles, Interstate 35 HS) and Kennedy Petersen (freshman, Story City, Roland-Story HS) which finished in 3:56.57

Emily McMartin (senior, Pella) and Ava Parkins (junior, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame [Iowa] HS) each had a pair of all-conference efforts in the short sprints. McMartin was second in the 200-meter dash (25.35) and third in the 400-meter dash (57.50). Parkins was third in both the 60-meter dash (7.77) and 200-meter dash (25.35)

The 4x800-meter relay team of Breckyn Petersen (freshman, Glenwood), Riley Packer (senior, Erie, Ill.), Leah Bontrager (senior, Wellman, Hillcrest Academy) and Kelley Duffy (junior, Breckenridge, Colo., Summit HS) took second in 9:36.21.
           
Central will send a few athletes to the Wartburg Final Qualifier next weekend in Waverly.
 
American Rivers Conference Championships results from Saturday
Triple jump – 11. Nona Van Berkum, 29-9.25; 12. Mollie Ries, 28-11.25
High jump – 3. Olivia Bohlen, 5-2.25; 9. Ramey Dahlquist, 5-0.25; 11. Sage Austin, 4:06.25
Mile – 2. Peyton Steffen, 4:54.53; 4. Maddy Stevens, 4:57.73; 6. Teah Miller, 5:09.22; 10. Leah Bontrager, 5:18.76; 13. Addie Doughan, 5:25.64
60-meter dash – 3. Ava Parkins, 7.77; 4. Emily McMartin, 7.85; 7. Mary Gustason, 7.99
60-meter hurdles – 2. Olivia Bohlen, 8.77
400-meter dash– 3. Emily McMartin, 57.50; 4. Ava Parkins, 57.63; 11. Kennedy Petersen, 59.72; 14. Danika Arnold, 1:00.83
800-meter run – 6. Alivia Roerdink, 2:17.60; 7. Kelley Duffy, 2:18.40; 11. Haydn Little, 2:29.39
200-meter dash – 2. Emily McMartin, 25.35; 3. Ava Parkins, 25.42; 12. Mary Gustason, 26.45
3,000-meter run – 1. Peyton Steffen, 9:53.69; 3. Maddy Stevens, 10:09.51; 4. Kyra Cordes, 10:10.08; 8. Teah Miller, 10:27.98
4x800-meter relay – 2. Breckyn Petersen, Riley Packer, Leah Bontrager, Kelley Duffy, 9:36.21
4x400-meter relay– 2. Alivia Roerdink, Olivia Phillips, Kennedy Petersen, Olivia Bohlen, 3:56.57