Matt Graber March 7, 2009

Good Dutch showing at Iowa State

AMES—Freshman Ethan Miller (Seymour) notched a pair of career bests but the Central College men’s and women’s indoor track and field squads failed to expand their contingent of national qualifiers at the Iowa State Last Chance Qualifier Saturday.

The Dutch women’s 4x400-meter relay unit of Jill Ziskovsky (sophomore, Dallas Center, Dallas Center-Grimes HS), Emily Teas (sophomore, Indianola), Rachelle Tipton (junior, Newton) and Amanda Mosinski (sophomore, Packwood, Pekin HS) squeezed in under the NCAA Division III indoor qualifying standard of 3:58.00 on Iowa State’s oversized 300-meter track, finishing 12th in 3:57.99. But that won’t make the cut when the field is announced for next weekend’s national meet in Terre Haute, Ind.

Competing against several Division I competitors, Miller came up a few inches short of the standard in the men’s long jump but soared past his previous best with a leap of 22-feet, 5.25 inches. His 6-6.25 effort in the high jump was also a career best, giving him 16th. Kurtis Brondyke (sophomore, Clinton) was 12th in the long jump at 20-7.

The field for the NCAA meet Friday and Saturday will be announced late Sunday. Brondyke likely has a spot locked up in the pentathlon. His 3,590-point effort Friday at the Central Pentathlon puts him fourth in Division III. Miller is 12th at 3,440.

“Ethan jumped really well,” coach Joe Dunham said. “He had a good day. He’ll do very well at the national meet if he gets in.”

Matt Graber (sophomore, Newton) failed to better his earlier provisional-qualifying throw of 51-6.5 in the shot put, which stands 13th in Division III. He placed ninth Saturday at 50-1.75 with Josh Garrison (freshman, Maxwell, Collins-Maxwell HS) 13th at 45-0.5.

Teddy Clark (senior, Montgomery, Ill., Oswego HS) turned in a career best 4:19.77 in the mile, finishing seventh.

The 4x400-meter relay team of  Kyle Wood (freshman, Newton), Matt Patrick (junior, Dallas Center, Dallas Center-Grimes HS), Luke Bolander (junior, Des Moines, East HS) and Alex Miller (junior, Adel, Van Meter HS) narrowly missed the provisional standard and placed 23rd at 3:19.62. Freshman Tyler Crouse (Hedrick, Pekin HS) was 15th in the weight throw (46-9.5).

Rachel Boeke (senior, Cedar Rapids, Jefferson HS) failed to improve on her earlier provisional toss of 43-0.25 in the shot put, finishing 14th at 41-1.75. She stands 18th in Division III, not likely enough for an NCAA berth.

Teas placed 13th in the 400 meters at 59.15 seconds.

Dunham said both Dutch squads are hitting their stride.

“We had a lot of good performances,” he said. “They’re definitely putting us in position to do well in outdoor season.”                                                                                                                                  

The outdoor campaign opens March 27-28 with the Viking Olympics at Rock Island, Ill.