Jill Ziskovsky May 14, 2008

Central adds provisional qualifier

PELLA—Central College freshmen Jill Ziskovsky (Dallas Center, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) and Kurtis Brondyke (Clinton) each topped NCAA Division III track and field meet provisional-qualifying marks at the Central Last Chance Open Wednesday evening.  

Ziskovsky blew past her career best in the 400 meter hurdles, placing second in 1:03.83 and topping the provisional standard of 1:04.14.

“Jill hasn’t been able to run that event much but we had a nice night,” coach Kevin Sanger said. “That was a good improvement for her.”

Brondyke also topped a collegiate best, leaping 23 feet, 4 inches in the long jump, a 1.5-inch improvement. The provisional-qualifying standard is 22-10 and Sanger thinks Brondyke’s jump is strong enough to crack the national meet field. The Division III championships will again be staged at the University of Wis.-Oshkosh next Thursday through Saturday. The field will be announced this weekend.

Brondyke is threatening to earn a berth in the high jump as well. He won the event Wednesday at 6-6.25. The provisional standard is 6-7.

“Kurtis certainly had a couple of good performances,” Sanger said.

Several other Dutch athletes had strong efforts. Jenny Owens (senior, Treynor) was third in the 100 meters in a personal best of 12.98 seconds and also topped her previous best in the long jump, finishing second at 17-7.5. Iowa Conference MVP Kari Hutchinson (senior, Charles City) placed second in the 200 meters (25.58 seconds), just ahead of Emily Teas (freshman, Indianola) who was third (25.97 seconds).

The women’s 4x100-meter relay unit of Owens, Hutchinson, Teas and Ziskovsky turned in a season-best 49.13 seconds in placing second.

Ashley Wiederin (sophomore, Bedford) nearly match a career best in the javelin, finishing second (119-2) with Sara Mouw (sophomore, Greene, North Butler HS) third (113-8).

For the Dutch men, Guy Dierikx (senior, Port Byron, Ill., Riverdale HS), already a likely NCAA qualifier in the 400 meters, made a rare appearance in the 100 meters and recorded a career best, placing second in 11.04 seconds. Matt Patrick (sophomore, Dallas Center, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) won the 200 in a career-best 22.43 seconds.

Eddie Elkin (senior, Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) won the pole vault (11-5.75) and Matt Graber (freshman, Newton) was first in the shot put (48-10.25).

“It was a great night to run and another chance to run on our home track,” Sanger said.

Central will make another bid at qualifying in the women’s and men’s 4x400-meter relays and the women’s 4x100-meter relay, competing at the North Central Last Chance Open in Naperville, Ill. Thursday and Friday. The Dutch will also enter several throwing events at the Augustana Twilight Open at Rock Island, Ill. Friday evening.