Abi Davis (senior, Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS), Ashlee Downs (senior, Urbandale, West Des Moines Valley HS), Monica Ruiz (senior, Hudson), and Hope Heitman (freshman, Guttenberg, Clayton Ridge HS) shattered a 34-year-old school record, finishing seventh in the prelims in 47.27 seconds.

That finally eclipsed the 1982 school standard of 47.43 seconds set by the memorable national champion tandem of Lisa Broek, Nancy Cisar, Paula Casey and Marcie Thurn. Broek, Cisar and Thurn are all members of Central’s Athletics Hall of Honor and helped the Dutch run away with the national team title in 1982 as well.

Yet Dunham thinks this year’s unit can lower the mark even further in Saturday’s 1:15 p.m. finals.

“If we just focus on our handoffs and getting the stick around, good things will happen,” he said.

Downs, sophomore Kate Patton (Murray), Heitman and Davis then turned in a season-best 3:46.94 to take sixth in the prelims of the 4×400-meter relay.

They move on to Saturday’s 5 p.m. finals.

“People really stepped up,” Dunham said. “But I think there’s the potential to run even faster. I’m happy with what we did, but our handoffs were just average. We can pick up some time.”

The Dutch weren’t able to advance in two other events Thursday, despite capable performances. Holly McKinney (sophomore, St. Charles, Interstate 35 HS) was 15th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase prelims in 11:09.98. Her career best was 10:51.99 a week ago in more favorable conditions at a last chance qualifier in Naperville, Ill.

“It was a really good experience for Holly,” Dunham said. “It was the first time in a national meet for her. It was an opportunity to run on a big stage but she wasn’t intimidated. She grew a lot today.”

Davis was 11th in the 200-meter dash prelims in 24.75 seconds, 0.07 seconds away from a spot in the final eight. Her season best was 24.64 seconds. But Davis will hardly be idle the next two days. Aside from running in both relays Saturday, she’ll also compete in Friday’s 5:30 p.m. prelims of the 100-meter dash, where she’s seeded 17th.

Also in action for Central tomorrow is Logan Mulford (junior, Mount Pleasant) in the men’s high jump at 11:30 a.m. He’s seeded 11th. And Dan Roemerman (senior, Iowa City) runs the men’s 110-meter hurdles prelims at 1:50 p.m. He’s seeded third and runs in the second of three seven-man heats.

“If Logan does what he did to get here, he’ll be fine,” Dunham said. “And Dan just needs to get a lane for Saturday. That’s all we’re focusing on.”

Central’s women’s 4×100-meter relay unit Thursday broke a school mark set in 1982 by the national championship foursome of (left to right) Lisa Broek, Paula Casey, Marcie Thurn and Nancy Cisar at the NCAA meet in Naperville, Ill.

Central College events
Friday, May 27

11:30 a.m. – men’s high jump

4:15 p.m. – men’s 110-meter hurdles prelims

5:30 p.m. – women’s 100-meters prelims

Saturday, May 28

11:30 a.m. – women’s hammer throw prelims & finals

1:15 p.m. – women’s 4×100-meter relay finals

1:50 p.m. – men’s 110-meter hurdles finals

2:40 p.m. – women’s 100-meter finals

4:00 p.m. – men’s 5,000 meters

5 p.m. – women’s 4×400-meter relay finals