Matt Schmailzl April 2, 2009

Large field set for Central Invitational

PELLA—At least 18 teams are expected for the Central Invitational men’s and women’s track and field meet Saturday.  

REVISED SCHEDULE  

Heat sheets  

Meet program

It’s become the outdoor season opener for the Dutch, after last Saturday’s Viking Olympics at Rock Island, Ill. were postponed because of wintry weather. Among the schools expected to send athletes to Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium Saturday are Ashford, Augustana (Ill.), Bethel (Minn.), Coe, Drake, Dubuque, Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.), Grand View, Iowa Central, Iowa Wesleyan, Knox, Luther, North Iowa, Northern Iowa, Minn.-Duluth and William Penn.

An expanded schedule features a decathlon/heptathlon that starts at 4 p.m. Friday. Also added are the 4x200- and 4x800-meter relays. Friday’s final decathlon event is slated for 9:10 p.m. The meet resumes at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, with the final event set for 8:05 p.m.

Last year a surge of last-minute entries produced an even larger field. The Dutch women were fifth out of 23 teams while the men finished seventh.

First-year coach Joe Dunham isn’t focusing on the team standings.

“We’re going to let everyone get their feet wet in a couple of events,” he said.

Dunham anticipates especially strong competition in the decathlon/heptathlon.

“The field looks very good,” he said. “We could be pretty full. That’s exciting”

While it’s a late start for the outdoor campaign—Central plays host to the Iowa Conference meet in just over five weeks—Dunham said his squad is making progress.

“I’m expecting us to run hard,” he said. “Practice has gone really well, despite the weather, and we’re expecting everyone to step up and perform.”