Luke Bolander May 16, 2008

Dutch relay races to likely NCAA berth

NAPERVILLE, ILL.—A record-crushing performance by the Central College women’s 4x400-meter relay team highlighted a late surge of bids for next week’s NCAA Division III track and field championships Friday night.  

The unit of Emily Teas (freshman, Indianola), Jill Ziskovsky (freshman, Dallas Center, Dallas Center-Grimes HS), Rachelle Tipton (sophomore, Newton) and Kari Hutchinson (senior, Charles City) sprinted home in 3:51.04, blowing past the school record of 3:55.1 set in 1984 and more than 4 seconds faster than this year’s previous best. It’s the ninth-fastest time in Divison III this year and should secure a berth at the national meet next Thursday through Saturday in Oshkosh, Wis. The NCAA field will be announced Sunday.

Competing at the Gregory Invitational at North Central College (Ill.), it was also a big night for the Central men’s 4x400-meter relay team of Matt Patrick (sophomore, Dallas Center, Dallas Center-Grimes HS), Alex Miller (sophomore, Adel, Van Meter HS), Luke Bolander (sophomore, Des Moines, East HS) and Guy Dierikx (senior, Port Byron, Ill., Riverdale HS). They turned in a 3:14.09, more than 2 seconds under this year’s previous best. The time ranks fourth in Division III and likely gives the Dutch a national spot in the relay for the 11th consecutive year. Central was fourth in the event last year.

“It’s been a rough spring with the weather we’ve had, but we finally had good conditions tonight and also got to run against some strong competition,” coach Kevin Sanger said. “That was a good combination.”

The Dutch have garnered all-America recognition in the men’s relay 10 times since 1993, including three runner-up finishes (1993-95) and three national championships (2000-02).

Miller also hit the provisional-qualifying standard in the 800 meters with a career-best 1:52.6. That ranks 17th nationally.

Jess Clark (junior, Port Byron, Ill., Riverdale HS) had a remarkable effort in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Clark fell down on the first lap but scrambled to her feet and broke the school record, finishing in 11:17.1, just ahead of the old mark of 11:17.3 set by Jill Rozendaal in 2005.

“She got knocked down and actually rolled onto the infield,” assistant coach David Paulsen said.

Despite the adversity, Clark wasn’t far from the NCAA provisional standard of 11:13.0.

Teddy Clark (junior, Montgomery, Ill., Oswego HS) eclipsed his career best in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing in 9:33.02.

Sanger also took some athletes to the Augustana Last Chance Twilight Qualifier in Rock Island, Ill. Friday evening. Rachel Boeke (junior, Cedar Rapids, Jefferson HS) topped the provisional mark in the shot put with a toss of 42 feet, 8.25 inches. While that likely will not earn her a national berth—it ranks 24th—it was a big improvement over her previous best of 41-4.5 established at the Iowa Conference meet May 9. Boeke is a provisional qualifier in the discus as well, standing 25th nationally at 143-2.

Carissa Bentz (sophomore, Ute, Boyer Valley HS) also established a new personal best in the discus, throwing 127-0.

“It was a great way for Rachel to finish the season,” Sanger said. “That was a huge PR for her. And Carissa threw well also. It was a good night for them for both of them.”