With the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships just days away, the Central College men’s team sits No. 22 in the final regular season USTFCCCA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National Team Rating Index.

The Dutch are one of four teams from the American Rivers Conference to crack the top-25 and remain ranked No. 5 in the Central Region. Central has been in the rating index five of the nine weeks this season, peaking at No. 18 in week three.

Long jumper Brock Lewis, who was just named the USTFCCCA Division III Midwest Region men’s field event athlete of the year, took over the No. 1 spot nationally after winning the event at the conference meet. Additionally, Lewis was also all-conference in the triple jump, while winning four of his five long jump appearances on the year. His only non-winning performance was a fourth-place finish at the Drake Relays behind a pair of NCAA Division I competitors.

High jumper Sam Beatty is ranked No. 2 nationally (6 feet, 10.25 inches) and Theo Baldus is No. 17 in the discus throw (165-3). Central has four decathletes on the top-20 list, as Brody Klein is No. 14 (6,413 points) Lucas Heitz is No. 17 (6,370 points), Reid Pakkebier is No. 18 (6,294) and Jaxon Thompson is No. 20 (6,259).

All eight of Central’s athletes in the top 20 are competing at the national meet this weekend in Geneva, Ohio at the Spire Institute.