PELLA — Gavin Smith (senior, Audubon) won the heptathlon and Gunner Meyer (senior, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) won the high jump for the Central College men's track and field team on Friday at the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Central is in third with 55 points, just four back from first-place Wartburg College.

Smith's total of 6,809 points cleared the field by nearly 500 points. He's now up to No. 7 nationally. Teammate Landon Pote (freshman, Ankeny) was second with 6,341 points.

In the high jump three athletes cleared 6 feet, 8 inches as their last bar. Meyer won the event based on previous misses. Teammate Lance Bunde (sophomore, Guthrie Center, ACGCHS) was third.

Also earning a trip to the all-conference podium, Jack Brown (Norwalk) was second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. He was closing in on the lead runner before falling into the final water jump.

In other field events, Gage Huyser (senior, Pella) is fifth in the long jump (21-8.25) and Ambrose Savage (freshman Lamoni) is seventh in the discus throw (152-1).

The 4x800-meter relay team of Nathan Vander Waal (sophomore, Pella), Justice Rathje (freshman, Ankeny), Cayden McLeland (junior, New Providence, BCLUW HS) and Alex Volden (sophomore, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) was sixth in 7:56.56

Saturday's final day of action starts at 10 a.m. with field events.
 
Results
10,000 meters – 15. Taylor Thunstedt, 33:30.62; 23. Brayden Kessler, 34:19.75; 25. Ian Meyer, 34:40.05; 26. Carter Hall, 35:42.27
3,000-meter steeplechase – 2. Jack Brown, 8:49.10; 6. Donovan Card, 9:17.32; 19. Tyler Moon, 10:22.90
4x800-meter relay – 6. Nathan Vander Waal, Justice Rathje, Cayden McLeland, Alex Volden, 7:56.56
High jump – 1. Gunner Meyer, 6-8; 3. Lance Bunde, 6-8; 8. Ross Kusel, 6-2
Long jump – 5. Gage Huyser, 21-8.25
Shot put – 17. Ambrose Savage, 43-0.5; 18. Xavier Darrow, 42-10.25; 19. Liam Mistlebauer, 41-9.75; 20. JT LaFleur, 41-6
Discus throw – 7. Ambrose Savage, 152-1; 10. Alier Agau, 146-5; 12. Alex Zarlatanes, 142-6
Decathlon – 1. Gavin Smith, 6,809 points; 2. Landon Pote, 6,341 points
 
Preliminaries
100 meters – 9. Owen Tomko, 10.92; 23. Gabe Feldmann, 11.39; 24. Jackson Tavegia, 11.47; 26. Evan Sheesley, 11.55
200 meters – 5. Owen Tomko, 22.37; 19. Gabe Feldmann, 23.21; 27. Mason Farrington, 23.95; 30. Evan Sheesley, 24.39
400 meters – 17. James Seeman, 50.13
800 meters – 20. Brayden Vander Wilt, 2:01.90; 21. Evan Voga, 2:01.94; 22. Xander Roerdink, 2:04.00; 26. Aiden Lange, 2:07.32
110 hurdles - 2. Gunner Meyer, 14.31; 3. Gage Huyser, 14.62; 5. Grant Miller, 14.90; 8. Zeke Nelson, 15.03
400 hurdles – 12. Cor Huyser, 58.44