PELLA – Set to travel with the largest contingent of national qualifiers in recent memory, 16 Central College track and field athletes will compete at the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships next weekend.
The national meet is to be held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina next Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Dutch have 16 individuals qualified across 14 events, with four athletes competing in two events.
A trio of 3,000-meter steeplechase runners headline the women’s qualifiers for Central. Megan Johnson (senior, Parkersburg, Aplington-Parkersburg HS) enters with the second-fastest time (10:19.79), Caroline McMartin (senior, Pella) is third (10:21.45) and Addison Parrott (junior, Danville) is eighth (10:36.24). McMartin and Johnson will double in the 5,000-meter races, with McMartin qualifying fourth (16:29.11) and Johnson is 14th (16:35.93).
Olivia Bohlen (sophomore, Belle Plaine) has the seventh best point total in the women’s heptathlon (4,737 points). Abbi Roerdink (senior, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS) qualified 12th in the 400-meter dash (55.75 seconds) and Peyton Steffen (sophomore, Marion) qualified 12th in the 1500 meters (4:29.05). Roerdink anchors the 4×400-meter relay team that also features Lizzy Van Utrecht (freshman, Ottumwa, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS), Ava Parkins (sophomore, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame [Iowa] HS) and Emily McMartin (sophomore, Pella) as the No. 12 qualifier in 3:48.13.
Noah Jorgenson (senior, Sidney) represents the Central men in two events, qualifying third in the 1500 meters (3:45.40) and 16th in the 800 meters (1:50.17). Freshman Jack Brown (Norwalk) enters 12th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (8:57.40) and Kale Purcell (junior, Holton, Kan.) is No. 14 in the triple jump (48-0)
There are four Dutch men in the decathlon field. Gavin Smith (sophomore, Audubon) comes in No. 7 (6,673 points), Reid Pakkebier (junior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) is No. 17 (6,482 points), Gage Huyser (sophomore, Pella) is No. 19 (6,442 points) and Kale Hobart (freshman, Mason City) is No. 21 (6,431 points).
Central College NCAA Championships schedule of events
Thursday, May 23 (times are EST)
Noon – men’s decathlon (100-meter dash)
12:30 p.m. – women’s heptathlon (110-meter hurdles)
12:45 a.m. – men’s decathlon (long jump)
1:15 p.m. – women’s heptathlon (high jump)
1:55 p.m. – men’s decathlon (shot put)
2:45 p.m. – men’s decathlon (high jump)
3:10 p.m. – women’s heptathlon (shot put)
5:35 p.n. – women’s 1500 meters (prelims)
5:50 p.m. – men’s 1500 meters (prelims)
4:30 p.m. – women’s heptathlon (200-meter dash)
4:40 p.m. – men’s decathlon (400-meter dash)
7:10 p.m. – women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase (prelims)
7:35 p.m. – men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase (prelims)
8 p.m. – women’s 4×400-meter relay (prelims)
Friday, May 24 (times are EST)
Noon – men’s decathlon (110-meter hurdles)
12:45 p.m. – men’s decathlon (discus throw)
1:30 p.m. – women’s heptathlon (long jump)
2 p.m. – men’s decathlon (pole vault)
2:15 p.m. – women’s heptathlon (javelin throw)
4:45 p.m. – men’s decathlon (javelin throw)
4:45 p.m. – women’s heptathlon (800 meters)
5 p.m. – women’s 400-meter dash (prelims)
6:15 p.m. – men’s 800 meters (prelims)
6:30 p.m. – men’s decathlon (1500 meters)
7 p.m. – men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase (finals)
7:15 p.m. – women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase (finals)
Saturday, May 25 (times are EST)
1 p.m. – men’s triple jump (prelims and finals)
4:25 p.m. – women’s 1500 meters (finals)
4:35 p.m. – men’s 1500 meters (finals)
6 p.m. – men’s 800 meters (finals)
5:10 p.m. – women’s 400-meter dash (finals)
7 p.m. – women’s 5,000-meter run
7:50 p.m. – women’s 4×400-meter relay (finals)
