Dutch track and field team puts together strong meet in Nebraska

Central has full team on the road for the first time

by Joseph Flaherty

Lincoln, Neb. (01/27/2025) — Taking advantage of the Division I facility Friday at the Prairie Wolf Indoor Invitational, the Central College men's and women's track and field teams made moves up the American Rivers Conference and national performance lists.

Friday's meet was hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan University but with most events being held at the Devaney Sports Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. The meet features a mix of Division III athletes but also some Division I and highly-rated NAIA programs.

"We did a really good job competing," coach Brandon Sturman said. "This meet was a better competitive meet for us as a team than it has been in the past. We had people contending for the top spots in almost every event or heat.

Peyton Steffen (junior, Marion) paced the field in the women's mile, finishing in 4 minutes, 58.75. She now has the fastest mark in Division III and one of just three athletes to go under five minutes. Addison Parrott (senior, Danville) was second in 5:09.33. Steffen also finished third in the 1000 meters in 2:58.57.

"She did what she's been doing all year," Sturman said. "She showed her strength by running close to her lifetime best in the mile and then doubling back in the 1000 and almost matching her school record from last week. She had a great meet today against some tougher competition."

Ava Parkins (sophomore, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame [Iowa] HS ran the fastest women's 400 meters in the American Rivers Conference so far this season in 59.26 seconds to place third. Emily McMartin (junior, Pella) was fourth in 59.81 seconds. McMartin was third in the 200 meters (26.02 seconds) while Parkins was fourth (26.08).

"I'm really proud of what those two have accomplished.," Sturman said. "We're challenging them more this year and had them run the open 400 which they haven't done very often. They were able to use their previous experience of running on a banked track to their advantage."

Jack Brown (sophomore, Norwalk) had a massive start to the indoor season in the 3,000 meters, taking second in 8:34.70 and cracking the national top 50 list.

"Jack had a great race," Sturman said. "It's a long drive out here to Nebraska and then a long day waiting until 5:30 to compete. He even came back and run a good 4x400 relay leg five minutes later."

Kale Purcell (senior, Holton, Kan.) was a runner-up finisher in the triple jump, measuring in at 46 feet, 10 inches.

"His consistency right now is really exciting to see," Sturman said.

In the 60-meter hurdles, Olivia Bohlen (junior, Belle Plaine) dropped her season-best time to 9.14 seconds, placing third in the women's race. Gunner Meyer (junior, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) taking was fifth in the men's 60-meter hurdles in 8.18 seconds.

"For them to come back into finals and PR like they did was really good. To make finals at this meet with so many good athletes is impressive. It's good for them to have that type of competition early in the year."

Central's multi-event athletes will compete at home next Thursday and Friday while most of the team will compete in the Wartburg Indoor Select Saturday in Waverly

Top-eight finishes - women

60-meter dash - 8. Mary Gustason, 8.04

200 meters - 3. Emily McMartin 26.02; 4. Ava Parkins 26.08

400 meters - 3. Ava Parkins, 59.26; 4.Emily McMartin, 59.81

600 meters - 3. Lizzy Van Utrecht, 1:42.57

1000 meters - 3. Peyton Steffen, 2:58.57; 7. Addison Parrott, 3:06.85

Mile - 1. Peyton Steffen, 4:58.75; 2. Addison Parrott, 5:09.33; 5. Teah Miller, 5:20.71

3000 meters - 7. Kira Hooper, 11:12.95; 8. Annika Kruse, 11:22.33

4x400 relay - 5. Central A, 4:13.33; 7. Central C, 4:43.20; 8. Central B, 4:44.56

60-meter hurdles - 3. Olivia Bohlen, 9.14

High jump - 7. Cadence Sinclair, 4-10.5

Pole vault - 5. Amber Vroman, 10-11.75