Steffen wins MVP, three events at league championships

Junior distance runner dominates for the Dutch

by Joseph Flaherty

Indianola, IA (05/13/2025) — Central College's Peyton Steffen (junior, Marion) won both the 1500 meters and 5000 meters Saturday at the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, securing the league's Women's Track Events MVP.

Steffen also won the 3,000-meter steeplechase Friday night to contribute 30 points to the Central team score. The Dutch totaled 135 points to take third. Wartburg College was the winner with 245 points.

"It's a tough conference and a tough meet," coach Brandon Sturman said. "I'm super proud of what we accomplished, especially all of the PRs and people doubling up or even tripling up in events."

Steffen ran the 1500 in 4 minutes, 30.41 seconds and the 5000 meters in 18:06.21.

"It's always tough to do three events at the conference meet, especially in the heat," Sturman said. "She didn't have to run the 5K but she took one for the team and scored 10 team points. I'm really proud of what she did."

Amber Vroman (senior, Seneca, Ill.) won the pole vault with a clearance of 11 feet, 5 inches. Teammates Leah Howard (junior, Auburn, N.Y.) and Kylie Meyer (freshman, Andalusia, Ill., Rockridge HS) finished second (11-1) and fourth (10-1.25), respectively.

"We had a good day in the pole vault," Sturman said. "Amber's been a great leader for us and it is nice to see her go out on top and get that championship one more time."

Junior Emily McMartin (Pella) was an all-conference performer in three events. She broke a school record in the 400-meter dash (55.62) while finishing second. She also was third in the 200-meter dash (24.80) and anchored the 4x400-meter relay team to a runner-up finish as well in 3:51.02. She was joined on the 4x400 squad by Olivia Bohlen (junior, Belle Plaine, Ava Parkins (sophomore, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame [Iowa] HS) and Alivia Roerdink (sophomore, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS).

Bohlen was second in the 110-meter hurdles (14.62 seconds) and Roerdink was third in the 800 meters (2:15.07) to round out the all-conference honorees.

A small contingent of Dutch athletes will compete at the Augustana Twilight Qualifier next Wednesday and Thursday in Rock Island, Illinois.

Top-eight finishes - women

100 meters (finals) - 4. Mary Gustason, 12.41

200 meters (finals) - 3. Emily McMartin, 24.80; 6. Ava Parkins, 25.48

400 meters (finals) - 2. Emily McMartin, 55.62; 5. Ava Parkins, 57.27

800 meters (finals) - 3. Alivia Roerdink, 2:15.07

1500 meters - 1. Peyton Steffen, 4:30.41

5000 meters - 1. Peyton Steffen, 18:06.21

4x100 relay - 4. Mary Gustason, Ava Parkins, Danika Arnold, Emily McMartin, 47.39

4x400 relay - 2. Olivia Bohlen, Ava Parkins, Alivia Roerdink, Emily McMartin, 3:51.02

110-meter hurdles (finals) - 2. Olivia Bohlen, 14.62

Pole vault - 1. Amber Vroman, 11-5; 2. Leah Howard, 11-1; 4. Kylie Meyer, 10-1.25