The cross country squads, tennis teams, women’s golf team, and women’s soccer squad from Central were all in action this week…
Freshman Eli Horton powered his way to an individual title at the St. Olaf Invitational Saturday morning and led the Central College men’s cross country team to a third-place finish. In his first collegiate 8,000-meter race, Horton obliterated the 325-runner field, finishing in a time of 25 minutes, 44 seconds. His mark was eight seconds in front of the runner-up and placed him 13th on Central’s all-time list. Meanwhile, Mel McDermott was again the top Dutch finisher for the women’s squad, claiming a 20th-place finish. The Central women scored 248 points to place ninth in the 16-team field. Both squads have next weekend off and return to action Sept. 30 in Des Moines at the Grand View Invitational.
The Central College women’s tennis squad came up on the wrong end of several close matches Saturday, falling to Iowa Conference opponent Wartburg College 7-2 at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex. The Dutch took three singles matches into a tie-breaking third set, but were only able to take one win from the Knights. Central is now 2-5 on the season, and travels to Fort Dodge on Tuesday for a neutral-site match against Buena Vista University.
The Central College men’s tennis team won all 19 of its matches at the Ashford Invitational individual tournament Saturday. The Dutch captured 10 doubles matches and nine singles matches.
The Central College women’s soccer squad put together a pair of hard-fought wins over the weekend. On Saturday, the Dutch picked up a 3-1 victory against the College of Saint Mary. Then on Sunday, Alayna Bailey put in a pair of goals for the second time in as many days, as the Central women’s soccer squad rallied to a 2-1 victory over Grinnell College. Central is off to a 6-2 start and begins a three-game homestand Tuesday at 4 p.m. against Northwestern College at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex field. The Red Raiders are 2-2-2 overall.
The Central College women’s golf squad dropped one spot to 15th in a 26-team field after the final round of the Illinois Wesleyan Fall Classic Sunday. Senior Sarah Paulson propelled herself into the top 10 of the 133-player tournament, carding a 74. Coupled with Saturday’s 79, Paulson shot 153 and finished fourth in the individual chase. Kaurie Kincaid, a junior, from Knoxville shot a 96-94—190 and Kelsey Van Tasell, a freshman from Pella High, rounded out the Dutch lineup at 101-111—212. Central returns to action next weekend, hosting the Central Invitational at the Bos Landen Golf Course. The 36-hole tourney is slated to begin Friday at 9 a.m.
Playing in less than favorable conditions, Central College senior Brent Messmore fired an even-par 71 to lead the Dutch after the opening round of the 36-hole Clarke University Fall Classic Sunday. The Dutch turned in a 310 at the Thunder Hills Country Club and Central’s White team, led by Messmore, carded 315. Clarke and St. Ambrose Univ. sit atop the 11-team field with 298 and the Univ. of Dubuque is at 301. Complete team and individual standings were available at the broadcast time. Monday’s final round is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.