Central women relay win puts exclamation point on conference track championships

The Dutch take third at conference meet

by Joseph Flaherty

Waverly, IA (03/04/2025) — The Central College women's track and field team won its third straight 4x400-meter relay at the American Rivers Conference Championships Indoor Championships Saturday.

Central was third with 126 team points. Loras College won the team crown with 195.5.

The quartet of Mary Gustason (junior, Marion, Linn-Mar HS), Olivia Bohlen (junior, Belle Plaine), Emily McMartin (junior, Pella) and Ava Parkins (sophomore, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame [Iowa] HS) edged Wartburg College by .25 seconds to win the 4x400 relay in 3 minutes. 56.43 seconds.

"We knew we had to give it all we had," coach Brandon Sturman said. "That's three in a row for us in this event and we're going to try and make it a new tradition."

Before anchoring the relay team, Parkins had two other all-conference finishes. She was second in the 400 meters (57.79 seconds) and third in the 60 meters (7.80 seconds).

"She had a great day," Sturman said. "She's running smart and is a heck of an athlete. She's young so hopefully we can just continue to build off this and create some more momentum."

Bohlen broke the school record in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.86 seconds to place second.

"She's come into her own the last week or two," Sturman said. "She's done some impressive things and its only going to help her in two weeks at the national meet in the pentathlon."

McMartin also made a second appearance on the all-conference podium for the 200 meters, taking third in 25.71 seconds.

"She trusted her ability and did what she needed to do in the 200," Sturman said.

Peyton Steffen (junior, Marion) and Addison Parrott (senior, Danville) finished first and second, respectively, in the 3000 meters. Steffen crossed in 9:54.41 and Parrott finished in 9:58.72 Steffen also was the runner-up in the mile (4:57.28)

"They ran well," Sturman said. "It helps when you've got a teammate by your side. They do it together and push each other."

The 4x800-meter relay team also earned all-conference accolades with a third-place effort in 9:54.56. That group consisted of Abby Halverson (junior, Decorah), Riley Packer (junior, Erie, Ill.), Teah Miller (sophomore, Iowa Falls, Iowa Falls-Alden HS) and Alivia Roerdink (sophomore, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS).

Central will send a select group of athletes to the Wartburg Qualifier next weekend in Waverly.

Top-eight finishes - women

60-meter dash (finals) - 3. Ava Parkins, 7.80; 4. Emily McMartin, 7.88; 5. Mary Gustason, 7.94

200 meters - 3. Emily McMartin, 25.71; 6. Mary Gustason, 26.09

400 meters - 2. Ava Parkins, 57.79; 8. Lizzy Van Utrecht, 1:00.47

800 meters - 4. Alivia Roerdink, 2:18.80

Mile - 2. Peyton Steffen, 4:57.28; 6. Teah Miller, 5:16.43

3000 meters - 1. Peyton Steffen, 9:54.41; 2. Addison Parrott, 9:58.72

4x400 relay - 1. Mary Gustason, Olivia Bohlen, Emily McMartin, Ava Parkins, 3:56.43

4x800 relay - 3. Abby Halverson, Riley Packer, Teah Martin, Alivia Roerdink, 9:54.56

60-meter hurdles (finals) - 2. Olivia Bohlen, 8.86

High jump - 5. Abigail White, 5-1.25