Relay win puts exclamation on Friday night track for meet for Dutch

Cenral's Back also wins mens 3K title

by Joseph Flaherty

Waverly, IA (02/10/2025) — In its final action of the night Friday, the Central College women's track and field team secured a win in the 4x400-meter relay at the Wartburg Friday Night Lights meet.

Competing at Wartburg College for the second week in a row, the Dutch were one of nine teams in attendance. There were no team scores. Central competed without most of its jumps and multi-events crew.

In the women's 60-meter dash, Ava Parkins (sophomore, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame HS [Iowa]) was second in 7.94 seconds. Teammates Emly McMartin (junior, Pella) were third (7.97) and Mary Gustason (junior, Marion, Linn-Mar HS) was fourth (7.99). It was a new PR for Gustason.

Parkins, McMartin and Gustason were joined by Lizzy Van Utrecht (sophomore, Ottumwa, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS) to win the women's 4x400-meter relay in 3:58.39.

Mason Back (sophomore, Winterset) took the crown in the men's 3,000-meter run, completing the race in 8 minutes, 53.15 seconds to best the 20-man field.

It was another big meet for the distance duo of Peyton Steffen (junior, Marion) and Addison Parrott (senior, Danville). Steffen won the women's mile in 4:57.27 with Parrott in second in 4:59.20. In the 800 meters, Steffen was also third in 2:18.28

In the women's 60-meter dash, Ava Parkins (sophomore, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame HS [Iowa]) was second in 7.94 seconds. Teammates Emly McMartin (junior, Pella) was third (7.97) and Mary Gustason (junior, Marion, Linn-Mar HS) were fourth (7.99). It was a new PR for Gustason.

The men's hurdling crew showed off its depth. Grant Miller (junior, Norwalk) finished runner-up in 8.26 seconds while Connor Miklos (fifth year, Lockport, Ill., Providence Catholic HS) was third in 8.27. Zeke Nelson (sophomore, Clear Lake) was also sixth in 8.55 seconds.

The Dutch are sending a few top distance runners to the David Hemery Valentine Invitational next Friday and Saturday at Boston University in Massachusetts. Most of the rosters are competing at the Darren Young Classic at Grinnell College.

Top-eight finishes - men

200 meters - 4. Connor Miklos, 22.63

400 meters - 3. Brian Hart, 51.68

600 meters - 2. Alex Volden, 1:25.57; 7. Jrake Van Hemert, 1:25.94

800 meters - 7. Jack Every, 1:57.58

Mile - 3. Jack Brown, 4:11.74

3K - 1. Mason Back, 8:53.15; 7. Ben DeValk, 9:14.13

4x400 - 8. Central A, 3:24.05

60-meter hurdles - 2. Grant Miller, 8:26; 3. Connor Miklos, 8.27; 6. Zeke Nelson, 8.55

Triple jump - 3. Jackson Tavegia, 42-6.75

Brian

Hart