PELLA — Taking advantage of the California weather, Central College men's track and field junior Jack Brown (Norwalk) erased the program's 1,500 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase records this weekend at the Bryan Clay Invitational hosted by Azusa Pacific University.

In Thursday's 3,000-meter steeplechase, Brown crossed the line in 8 minutes, 51.60 seconds to take 13th of 91 runners in the Open Division. His school record time has him No. 3 nationally in the event. Late Saturday night, he also broke the 1,500 meters mark in 3:44.46. He finished second in the Open A Division and is No. 2 in Division III this season.

Peyton Steffen (senior, Marion) ran the same sequence of events on the women's side, and though she didn't set any records, she affirmed her spot in the national conversation. Her steeplechase time of 10:17.90 is the second-best in the country and her 1,500 meters time of 4:28.05 is 12th.

Freshmen Kyra Cordes (Marion) and Maddy Stevens (Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) also ran in California and cracked the school's top-10 lists in the women's 800 meters and 1500 meters. Cordes ran the 800 in 2:13.70 and the 1,500 in 4:40.95. Stevens was faster in the 1,500 in 4:35.62 and 2:14.79 in the 800.

Central is set to run at the Drake Relays and Kip Janvrin Open hosted by Simpson College this week.
 
Results
Women's 800 meters Open B – 36. Kyra Cordes, 2:13.70; 59. Maddy Stevens, 2:14.79
Women's 1500 meters Open B – 64. Maddy Stevens, 4:35.62; 109. Kyra Cordes, 4:40.95
Women's 1500 meters Open A – 32. Peyton Steffen, 4:28.05
Women's 3000 steeplechase Open – 8. Peyton Steffen, 10:17.90
Men's 1500 meters Open A – 2. Jack Brown, 3:44.46
Men's 3,000 steeplechase Open – 13. Jack Brown , 8:51.60