Marr Makes Her Weight Throw Mark for Dutch Women

The first step to making a return to the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships was taken by Central College women’s track and field thrower Abby Marr (senior, Riceville) Saturday afternoon at the Dutch Athletics Classic with an impressive winning toss.

Central topped the team standings with 253 points in a field that included Simpson College, Iowa Wesleyan University, Missouri Valley College and Southwestern Community College.

Marr reached 56 feet, 3.75 inches in the weight throw on her fourth effort. She was five feet better than anyone else in the field. She also took third in the shot put (39-3.25). Her weight throw currently was top-five nationally.

Central took the top-three spots in both the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes. Emily McMartin (freshman, Pella) won the 60 in 7.94 seconds, trailed by Willa Sickelka (freshman, Primghar, South O’Brien HS) in 7.98 seconds and Mary Gustason (freshman, Marion, Linn-Mar HS) in 8.02 seconds. McMartin also won the 200 in 26.58 seconds, Sickelka was second (26.70) and Abbi Roerdink (junior, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS) was third (27.13)

Pole vaulter Amber Vroman (sophomore, Seneca, Ill.) set a new personal-best mark for the second meet in a row by clearing 10 feet, 0 inches to win. Cali Coffman (senior, Leawood, Kan., Blue Valley HS) was second in 9-6.25

In the distance events, Central won the 800 meters, 1000 meters and 3000 meters. Riley Packer (freshman, Erie, Ill.) won the 800 in 2:35.08, Lauren Coon (senior, Oskaloosa) won the 1000 in 3:18.54 and Caroline McMartin (junior, Pella) won the 3000 meters in 20:21.36

Lauren Brown (junior, Underwood), Abby Gruver (junior, Sully, Lynnville-Sully HS), Hadyn Miller (junior, Iowa Falls, Iowa Falls-Alden HS) and Roerdink took the 4×400-meter relay title in 4:22.83. Gruver was also third in the 60-meter hurdles in 9.88 seconds.

Abigail White (sophomore, Centerville) won the high jump at 4-9. MacKenzie Kruse (senior, St. Clair, Minn.) also cleared 4-9 but took second based on number of jump attempts. Winona Van Berkum (freshman, Pella) was third at 4-7.

Central’s Beatty Sails in First High Jump of Season

In his first appearance of the Central College men’s track and field season at the Dutch Athletics Classic, high jumper Sam Beatty (senior, Mount Pleasant) set a new indoor personal best and likely sealed a trip to the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in March.

Central topped the team standings with 177.5 points.in a field that included Simpson College, Iowa Wesleyan University, Missouri Valley College and Southwestern Community College.

Beatty cleared the bar at 6 feet, 8.75 inches to win the high jump. He’s one of just four jumpers in Division III to reach that height so far this season.

Lucas Heitz (senior, Adel, ADM HS) had a new personal-best mark in the pole vault, winning with a mark of 13-5.25. Jaxon Thompson (junior, Marion, Linn-Mar HS) was second with 12-5.5

Theo Baldus (fifth year, St. Ansgar) swept the throwing events, winning the shot put in 44-2.75 and the weight throw in 52-5.

Adam Sylvia (senior, Rochester, Mass., Old Rochester HS) was the 3,000-meter run winner in 8 minutes, 53.32 seconds. Cutler Owens (fifth year, Runnells, Southeast Polk HS) was second (8:56.42) and Caleb Silver (senior, Conrad, BCLUW HS) was third (9:01.12).

Noah Erickson (junior, Mount Vernon) led the way in the 200-meter dash in 23.51 seconds. Brian Hart (sophomore, Norwalk) was second (23.83 seconds) and Carson Zeitler (sophomore, Milton, Davis County HS) was third (23.96 seconds). Erickson and Zeitler ran the 4×400-meter relay team with Tanner Fry (sophomore, Osceola, Clarke HS) and Brody Klein (junior, Rainier, Wash.) in 3:39.75, finishing second.

Reid Pakkebier (sophomore, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) was second in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.33 seconds.

Up Next:

The Central track and field teams travel to the Prairie Wolf Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska on Friday, starting at 4:15 p.m.