Claiming three event titles, the Central College men’s and women’s track and field teams kicked off the outdoor season Thursday at the Central Dutch Invitational.

Thursday’s season opener was only for Central’s sprinters, hurdlers and field events athletes as nearly the entirety of the distance crew is competing Friday in Missouri.

On the men’s side, Kale Purcell won the opening triple jump of the year, reaching 46 feet, 2.75 inches. In the 400-meter dash, Kaleb Brand crossed the line in 49.67 seconds to win in his first track and field action of the season. Teammate Jrake Van Hemert was fifth in 51.19 seconds. The 4×100-meter relay team of Connor Miklos, Jackson Moats, JD Elefson, and Noah Erickson finished third in 42.52 seconds and Miklos was also fifth in the 60-meter hurdles in 15.60 seconds. Other top-five finishes for the Dutch men were Grant Miller in the javelin throw (fourth, 162-9), Alex Miller in the pole vault (12-7.5) and Brayden Harris in the 400-meter hurdles (57.89 seconds).

Central’s women’s 4×400-meter relay team started the season by going under four minutes with a winning time of 3:59.48. Lizzy Van Utrecht led the quartet off before giving way to Emily McMartin, Abby Gruver and Ava Parkins. McMartin and Parkins were joined by Abbi Roerdink and Mary Gustason to cross the line in 48.26 seconds for runner-up honors in the 4×100-meter relay and McMartin also had a runner-up finish in the 200-meter dash in 26.13 seconds. Roerdink also placed fourth in the 800-meter run in 2:22.70. 

Central also had top-three finishes from Alyssa Mayhew in the 1500-meter run (second, 4:54.64), Amber Vroman in the pole vault (second, 10-8), Gruver in the 400-meter hurdles (third, 1:05.32), Allison Van Gorp in the discus throw (127-9) and Cadence Sinclair in the high jump (tied for second, 5-1).

Central’s distance crew will compete Friday at the Washington University Distance Carnival in St. Louis, Missouri.