Dutch women secure national spot in distance medley relay

Central puts forth final qualifying marks

by Joseph Flaherty

Waverly, IA (03/10/2025) — Dropping a few seconds off its previous best time this season, the Central College women's track and field team's distance medley relay squad confirmed its spot at next weekend's national meet with its effort at the Wartburg Qualifier.

There were no team scores kept and Central had entries in just a few events this weekend.

On Friday night, the women's distance medley relay team of Addison Parrott (senior, Danville), Emly McMartin (junior, Pella), Alivia Roerdink (sophomore, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS), and Peyton Steffen (junior, Marion) finished second while improving their season-best time to 11 minutes, 47.51 seconds. They are sitting squarely in position to make another trip to nationals after Central finished runner-up last season.

"They did what they needed to do and took advantage of the opportunity," coach Brandon Sturman said. "I think we still have a little bit more we can improve on. It's getting to keep the tradition going and qualify again in that race."

McMartin ran the third leg of the 4x400-meter relay, helping the team to a season-best mark of 3:53.60 to place sixth. She was joined by Mary Gustason (junior, Marion, Linn-Mar HS), Lizzy Van Utrecht (sophomore, Ottumwa, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS) and Ava Parkins (sophomore, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame HS [Iowa]). The group is likely on the outside looking in for a trip to the national meet.

The men's DMR squad of Derek Webster (senior, Norwalk), Jrake Van Hemert (junior, Pella), Jack Every (freshman, Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) and Jack Brown (sophomore, Norwalk) also improved their best time of the season, finishing fourth in 10:05.87. The improvement was likely not enough to get them to the national meet.

"We would have liked to get more entries in, but times have been faster around the country this year and it's made it harder to qualify," Sturman said. "We still had a good weekend overall."

Individually, Connor Miklos (fifth year, Lockport, Ill., Providence Catholic HS) was second in the 60-meter hurdles in a new personal-best time of 8.15 seconds. Parkins also set a new standard for herself in the 400 meters, finishing third in 57.41 seconds

Central's official qualifiers to the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in Rochester, New York next weekend will be released Sunday.

Top-eight finishes - women

400 meters - 3. Ava Parkins, 57.41; 6. Alivia Roerdink, 59.85

4x400 relay - 6. Mary Gustason, Lizzy Van Utrecht, Emily McMartin, Ava Parkins, 3:53.60

Distance medley relay - 2. A. Parrott, E. McMartin, A. Roerdink, P. Steffen, 11:47.51

Emily

McMartin