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.

Junior women's sprinter Emily McMartin (Pella) was third in the 200-meter dash in 24.73, which is also the third-fastest time in program history.

"I was excited to see her transition from indoor to outdoor," Sturman said. "She ran a wind-legal PR it shows she was able to maintain what she did indoors and take it to another level."

McMartin ran the second leg of the winning 4x400-meter relay team with Lizzy Van Utrecht (sophomore, Ottumwa, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS), Danika Arnold (freshman, Glenwood) and Ava Parkins (sophomore, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame [Iowa] HS) in a time of 4:01.06. Arnold spent the indoor season with the women's basketball and is catching up on her training.

"Running that fast with a freshman who hasn't trained all season is a pretty good start," Sturman said.

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

Top-eight finishes - women

100 meters- 4. Ava Parkins, 12.17; 5. Mary Gustason, 12.31

200 meters - 3. Emily McMartin, 24.73

1500 meters - 3. Alivia Roerdink, 5:11.45; 5. Peyton Madison, 5:14.29

3000 meters - 1. Teah Miller, 11:03.21; 3. Emma Rocha, 11:43.46; 7. Abby Halverson, 12:01.00; 8. Chloe Ristau, 12:06.50

4x100 relay - 2. Mary Gustason, Ava Parkins, Danika Arnold, Emily McMartin, 48.91

4x400 relay - 1. Central A, 4:01.06; 3. Central B, 4:10.26

100-meter hurdles (finals) - 8. Paige Davis, 16.54

Triple jump - 6. Ella Jumper, 31-4; 7. Nona Van Berkum, 30-11.75

High jump - 1. Abigail White, 5-1; 2. Cadence Sinclair, 4. Olivia Bohlen, 4-11; 5. Ramey Dahlquist, 4-11; 6. Sage Austin, 4-9