Competing for the first time in 2024, the Central College men’s and women’s track and field teams took down some school records and won a few events amidst a talented field at the Prairie Wolf Invitational Friday.
Hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan, but at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s facility, the Prairie Wolf Invitational featured student-athletes from Division I schools like Colorado State, Sacramento State, Wichita State and Nebraska. No team scores were kept.
Caroline McMartin broke her first record of the indoor season by winning the women’s mile in 4 minutes, 57.40 seconds. She nipped teammate Megan Johnson at the line by .47 seconds. The duo are fifth and sixth so far this season in Division III in the event. Addison Parrott and Peyton Steffen were fifth and seventh in the mile in 5:09.94 and 5:12.35, respectively. Those marks place them No. 6 and No. 8 in program history. In the women’s 1,000, McMartin, Johnson and Parrott finished 3rd ,4th, and 5th in 3:00.83, 3:00.92 and 3:06. Abbi Roerdink placed second in the 600 meters in 1:37.79, and teammate Hadyn Miller was third in 1:41.19. Roerdink led the opening leg of the winning 4×400-meter relay that featured Emily McMartin, Lizzy Van Utrecht and Olivia Bohlen and clocked in at 4:04.51. Emily McMartin was seventh in the 200 meters (26.14) and Van Utretcht was seventh in the 400 (1:01.04). Amber Vroman added a sixth-place finish in the pole vault after clearing 10 feet, 2 inches.
Central’s only event champion on the men’s side was Noah Jorgenson, who won the 1,000 meters in 2:28.56. Teammate Joey Hovinga was second in 2:46.65. Kale Purcell was the men’s triple jump runner-up, reaching a mark of 45-11.25. Freshman Gabe Feldmann was the champion in the 600 meters in 1:26.72 and Caleb Silver was third in the men’s mile in a personal-best time of 4:21.43.
The Dutch have two events on the docket for next weekend. The Dutch Winter Multi Meet will be hosted in H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse Thursday and Friday and the majority of Central’s roster will be at the Grinnell Invitational next Saturday.