Dutch start outdoor track and field season at home

Central opens outdoor season on a windy day

by Joseph Flaherty

Pella, IA (03/31/2025) — PELLA- Blustery conditions were the story of the day at the outdoor season opener for the Central College track and field teams at the Central Dutch Invitational Friday.

There were no team scores kept in a meet that featured student-athletes from 15 different programs including NCAA Division I and III, NAIA, NJCAA and NCCAA institutions.

"This was a really good meet," coach Brandon Sturman said. "For a first meet, we had some good competition."

The weather was a big factor all day long as wind gusts of over 40 miles per hour were frequent.

"Today was super nice in terms of the sunshine and temperatures, but the winds were pretty crazy," Sturman said.

Gunner Meyer (junior, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) won the men's 110-meter hurdles in 14.23 seconds and was also second in the high jump with a clearance of 6 feet, 6.75 inches.

"It was definitely an exciting start to his outdoor season," Sturman said. "He was able to run fast in the hurdles and still be wind legal."

Central's duo of Jack Every (freshman, Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) and William Wadsley (sophomore, Gilbert) went 1-2 in the men's 3,000-metter race, with Every taking the crown in 9:17.36. Wadsley trailed narrowly with a time of 9:19.97.

"When you're running that long of a race and every 200 meters you're running into a 30-mph headwind, it can be really tough," Sturman said. "They did a great job and it shows the combination of their strength and fitness."

The Dutch travel to the Wartburg Outdoor Select next Friday and Saturday in Waverly.

Top-eight finishes - men

400 meters - 7. Brian Hart, 51.32

1500 meters - 2. Derek Webster, 4:12.34

3000 meters - 1. Jack Every, 9:17.36; 2. William Wadsley, 9:17.97; 4. Ben Every, 9:34.32; 5. Randy Jimenez, 9:36.81; 7. Mason Back, 9:43.22

4x100 relay - 7. Zeke Nelson, Grant Miller, Mason Farrington, Owen Tomko, 1:08.72

4x400 relay - 2. Central A, 3:26.31

110-meter hurdles - 1. Gunner Meyer, 14.23; 2. Grant Miller, 14.45; 5. Zeke Nelson, 15.14; 8. Cor Huyser, 15.43

400-meter hurdles - 5. Cor Huyser, 59.04; 6. Brayden Harris, 59.61; 7. Lawsen Fuller, 1:02.17

Long jump - 4. Kale Purcell, 22-6.25; 6. Owen Tomko, 21-10

Triple jump - 1. Kale Purcell, 48-0.50; 3. Jackson Tavegia, 41-6

High jump - 2. Gunner Meyer, 6-6.75; 5. Lance Bunde, 6-4.75