Central’s McMartin Named ARC Female Runner of the Week

Another record-breaking run by Caroline McMartin earned the Central College women’s track and field distance runner the American Rivers Conference Women’s Track and Field Track Performer of the Week accolade Monday.

McMartin won the women’s 1,500-meter race at the Dutch Invitational Friday in Pella. She crossed the line in four minutes, 35.72 seconds to win and break her seventh school record of the academic year. She’s No. 9 nationally in Division III in the event. She also finished second in the 800-meter run in 2:18.25.

In addition to her outdoor 1,500 meters record, McMartin has set six other school records so far in 2022-23. In women’s cross country, she reset the 6,000-meter run time at 21:50. During the indoor season, she set a new mile record (4:57.50), 3,000-meter run record (9:50.39), 5,000-meter run record (17:29.58) and anchored the distance medley relay team (11:44.98). She also already set the new outdoor 5,000-meter run record at 16:50.17.

McMartin is slated to run with the Dutch at the Jim Duncan Invitational in Des Moines on Friday and the Cornell Invitational in Mount Vernon on Saturday.

Central’s Bach, Huisman on Softball Watchlist

Central College second baseman Haley Bach and pitcher Sydni Huisman were named to the first-ever Tucci/NFCA Division III Player and Pitcher of the Year watchlists.

They’re among 141 players, including 24 returning NFCA All-Americans, listed for the awards. The awards are voted on by the NFCA Division III All-America Committee, with winners announced June 9.

Bach, last year’s team Newcomer of the Year Award winner, is off to a torrid start this spring with a team-high .467 batting average. The team’s leadoff hitter, she’s scored 35 runs in 24 games, with six doubles and two triples. She’s also drawn 16 walks and has a .574 on-base percentage with 10 stolen bases and a .941 fielding percentage.

After an injury-shortened 2022 campaign, Huisman has posted an 11-2 record with one save and a 1.79 earned run average. She’s walked 19 batters and fanned 43 in 58.2 innings. A team co-captain, Huisman was Central’s Newcomer of the Year Award winner in 2020 and the LeRoy Timmer Most Inspirational Player Award recipient last season.

Central, ranked No. 17 in the AFCA Division III poll, has a 20-4 record with a 1-1 American Rivers mark. The Dutch travel to Indianola today for a 3 p.m. conference doubleheader with Simpson College that can be heard live on the KNIA3 stream.