PELLA — Compiling the best decathlon in Division III history, Central College men's track and field junior
Kale Hobart (junior, Mason City) won the Dutch Spring Multi Thursday.
The Dutch Spring Multi was one of three competitions for the Central track and field program this week. Central also had entries at the Jim Duncan Invitational hosted by Drake University Friday and are set to have more athletes at the Dick Young Classic hosted by Grinnell College Saturday.
Hobart ascends to Division III record – Hobart totaled 7,580 points to win the event. The previous record of 7,528 points was set in 1987 by Simpson College's Kip Janvrin. Janvrin went on to represent the United States in the 2000 Olympics.
Central claimed the top-four spots in the decathlon and all four are among the top-eight this season far in Division III.
Gage Huyser (senior, Pella) had 6,750 points,
Gavin Smith (senior, Audubon) had 6,699 points and
Landon Pote (freshman, Ankeny) had 6,321 points.
Olivia Bohlen (senior, Belle Plaine) also broke her own school record in the women's heptathlon, winning with 5,136 points.
Shayla Greeley (freshman, Riceville) finished third with 4,189 points
Jim Duncan Invitational –
Peyton Steffen (senior, Marion) ran the second-fastest women's 1,500 meters time in school history at the Jim Duncan Invitational hosted by Drake University Saturday.
Steffen clocked in at 4 minutes, 28.29 seconds in the 1500 meters, taking eighth in a race full of Division I athletes from Iowa and Iowa State.
The women's 4x400-meter relay team of
Emily McMartin (senior, Pella), Kennedy Petersen (freshman, Story City, Roland-Story HS), Alivia Roerdink (junior, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS) and
Ava Parkins (junior, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame [Iowa] HS) finished third in 3:52.35.
Gunner Meyer (senior, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) finished third in the 110-meter hurdles in 13.91 seconds. He was also third in the high jump with a clearance of 6 feet, 6.75 inches.
Lance Bunde was fourth with a high jump of 6-5.75
The majority of Central's team will be competing at the Augustana Meet of Champions next weekend in Rock Island, Illinois.
