Dutch men fifth at indoor conference track meet

STORM LAKE — There were 18 different individuals who contributed to the scoring Saturday for the Central College men’s track and field team as it took fifth at the American Rivers Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Central totaled 65.5 points in the team standings. Loras College won the title with 186 points.

“We competed hard,” coach Brandon Sturman said. “We did what we needed to do to stay in the mix but we don’t have the juice right now.”

Sam Beatty (senior, Mount Pleasant) reached the podium in the high jump, tying for second place at 6 feet, 7 inches. Jaxon Thompson (junior, Marion, Linn-Mar HS) and Nolan Meyer (freshman, Bondurant, Bondurant-Farrar HS) also scored in the event for Central, finishing sixth (6-3.25) and seventh (6-1.25), respectively.

“I think for Sam, it was a little disappointing,” Sturman said. “But he also has bigger goals at the national meet.”

Four of the eight scoring athletes in the heptathlon competed for the Dutch. Reid Pakkebier (sophomore, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) was fourth with 4,586 points and Grant Miller (freshman, Norwalk) was fifth with 4,338 points. Gage Huyser (freshman, Pella) was seventh (4,222 points) and Gavin Smith (freshman, Audubon, Iowa) was eighth (4,124 points).

Adam Sylvia (senior, Rochester, Mass., Old Rochester HS) placed fourth in the mile in 4 minutes, 12.74 seconds. He ran the second leg of the fifth place 4x800-meter relay team, joined by Caleb Silver (senior, Conrad, BCLUW HS), Derek Webster (sophomore, Norwalk) and Noah Jorgenson (junior, Sidney) in a time of 8:03.85. Jorgenson was also eighth in the open 800 (1:56.59).

“Adam ran exceptionally well,” Sturman said.

In other field events, Theo Baldus (fifth year, St. Ansgar) was fifth in the weight throw (53-8.5) and Kale Purcell (sophomore, Holton, Kan.) was sixth in the triple jump (43-9.25). It was Purcell’s first meet of the season after joining fresh off the basketball season.

“Theo did what he needed to do,” Sturman said. “Kale was able to sneak away with some points.”

The 4x400-meter relay quartet of Brian Hart (sophomore, Norwalk), Carson Zeitler (sophomore, Milton, Davis County HS), Lucas Heitz (senior, Adel, ADM HS) and Noah Erickson (junior, Mount Vernon) was fifth in 3:28.74. Heitz and Pakkebier were seventh and eighth in the 60-meter hurdles final in 8.49 and 8.56 seconds, respectively. Connor Miklos (junior, Lockport, Ill., Providence Catholic HS) also finished seventh in the 200-meter dash (22.62 seconds).

A handful of athletes will compete at the Wartburg Qualifier on March 3 and March 4. The NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships are set for Friday, March 10 and Saturday, March 11 in Birmingham, Alabama.