Dutch track & field teams remain in national top 25

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — With the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships set for this weekend, the Central College men’s and women’s track and field both are among the country’s top 25 Division III programs.

Points in the National Team Rating Index are based off placement in the National Descending Order Lists. The higher an athlete sits on the top-50 list, the more points he or she adds to his or her team’s total. These points do not reflect placement or scoring at the NCAA Championships but are to show the individuals and teams that have the best chances at scoring well at said meet.

The Central women are down to No. 20 this week with just two new marks in the top 50. Emily McMartin (junior, Pella) moved up to No. 31 in the 400-meter dash (56.02). She also anchored the 4×100-meter relay team to the No. 46 time (47.90 seconds). in the country. She was joined by Mary Gustason (junior, Marion, Linn-Mar HS), Ava Parkins (sophomore, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame [Iowa] HS and Danika Arnold (freshman, Glenwood).

The Dutch men dropped to No. 21 while adding two new marks to the top 50 lists. Kaleb Brand (fifth year, Mount Vernon) is now No. 34 in the 400 meters (47.55 seconds) and Connor Miklos (fifth year, Lockport, Ill., Providence Catholic HS) is No. 36 in the 110-meter hurdles (14.57 seconds).

The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse is No. 1 for both genders after its women took over the top spot this week.

Central and the rest of the American Rivers Conference will battle at the league’s championship meet in Indianola this weekend. The three-day event starts on Thursday.