A handful of Central College men’s and women’s track and field team several athletes put themselves in much better position for next weekend’s NCAA Division III Championships with their marks at the Midwest Twilight Qualifier Thursday. No team scores were kept at the meet.

Improving upon his previous best mark of the season in the men’s discus throw by over 10 feet, Theo Baldus is set to make a return to the national meet after finishing 10th with a throw of 167 feet, 3 inches. On the track, Noah Jorgenson crossed the line in 1:50.42 in the 800-meter run, taking fifth place. He shaved off just enough time to be position to qualify pending any additional results from the West Coast. 

Addison Parrott was fifth in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 10:56.70. Adam Sylvia was seventh in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in  3:47.67. Both are awaiting potential scratches in front of them to see if they will make the cut. Sylvia took the school record away from Jorgenson. Mary Gustason, Olivia Bohlen, Abbi Roerdink, and Emily McMartin dropped .10 seconds off their best time of the season, finishing 9th in 47.73 seconds. Roerdink also finished eighth individually in the 400-meter dash in 57.79 seconds. McMartin had a season-best 200-meter dash time of 25.51 seconds.

The indoor national champion in the men’s high jump, Sam Beatty, took second place by clearing 6-6. That mark is not an improvement on his season best and he will likely be on the outside looking in for a spot at the national meet. In the men’s javelin throw, Luke Pavlat was seventh with a toss of 156-9. Women’s discus thrower Alyssa Streigel was 14th with a career-best toss of 138-10. Men’s triple jumper Kale Purcell was 10th in 42-11.5

Official start lists for the NCAA Division III Championships next weekend in Rochester, New York will be released on Friday.