Brown, Purcell titles highlight day at conference track meet for Dutch men
Central men fifth at league championships
Waverly, IA (03/04/2025) — Individual event tiles for Jack Brown (sophomore, Norwalk) in the mile and Kale Purcell (senior, Holton, Kan.) in the triple jump were the key moments for the Central College men's track and field team on the final day of the American Rivers Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday.
The Dutch men finished fifth with 76.5 team points. Wartburg College won the team championship with 207.5 points.
Brown saved his best lap for the end of the mile when he overtook Wartburg College's Lance Sobaski with a 29.828 split. It was the fastest lap by any of the 23 runners in the field.
"He ran a really smart strategic race," coach Brandon Sturman said. "It was awesome see him come back after the distance medley relay last night and he put the hammer down at the end of the race."
It was the opposite story for Purcell in the triple jump who recorded his winning mark of 47 feet, 11.25 inches on his first attempt. It was the senior's first indoor triple jump league title and second overall after winning outdoors in 2024.
"I'm excited about where he's at right now," Sturman said. "We'll reset and train through these next couple of weeks and hit it big for the national meet."
Four of the top five finishers in the 60-meter hurdles represented Central. Gunner Meyer (junior, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) was second in 8.09 seconds and Reid Pakkebier (senior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) was third in 8.14 seconds to earn all-conference accolades. Additionally, Grant Miller (junior, Norwalk was fourth in 8.15 seconds and Connor Miklos (fifth year, Lockport, Ill., Providence Catholic HS) was fifth in 8.27 seconds.
Meyer also added an all-conference performance in the high jump, taking third with a leap of 6 feet, 5 inches.
"I was really excited about what Gunner did with the hurdles on back-to-back days," Sturman said. "And then he came back and high jumped on tired legs. He built some confidence today and I'm excited to see what he can do moving forward."
Central will send a select group of athletes to the Wartburg Qualifier next weekend in Waverly.
Top-eight finishes - men
Mile - 1. Jack Brown, 4:09.67; 6. Derek Webster, 4:18.91
4x800 relay - 6. Blake Creed, James Brant, Jack Every, Jack Bown, 8:02.58
60-meter hurdles (finals) - 2. Gunner Meyer, 8.09; 3. Reid Pakkebier, 8.14; 4. Grant Miller, 8.15; 5. Connor Miklos, 8.27
Triple jump - 1. Kale Purcell, 47-11.25
High jump - 3. Gunner Meyer, 6-5; 4. (tie) Lance Bunde, 6-3.25