Dutch multi-eventers strong on day one of conference meet

INDIANOLA  — Three of the four Central College track & field athletes entered in the men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon are in position to score after the first day of competition at the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships Thursday.

Reid Pakkebier (senior, Cedar Rapids, Kennedy HS) is currently second in the men’s decathlon with 3,606 points and teammate Gage Huyser (junior, Pella) is third with 3,387 points. In the women’s heptathlon Sage Austin (Carlisle) has 2,179 points to sit in eighth place. Jessica Larson (freshman, Britt, Garner-Hayfield HS) is in 12th with 1,813 points.

“They all competed well and set themselves up for success tomorrow,” assistant coach Aaron Fuller said.

Pakkebier had new personal-best marks in the 400-meter dash (51.01 seconds) and shot put (42 feet, 6.75 inches). He also had the fastest 100-meter dash time in 11.09 seconds. Huyser also ran the fastest 400 meters of his career in 51.20 seconds.

Austin’s best event was the 200-meter dash, running the fourth-fastest time in 26.77 seconds. Larson had a new personal-best in the 110-meter hurdles (18.11 seconds) and a season-best shot put (22-9.75).

Day two of the decathlon and heptathlon starts at 10 a.m. Friday in Indianola. The meet will start in earnest at 1 p.m. with field events followed by track events at 2:30 p.m.