Dutch distance star Horton regional track athlete of the year
Larry Happel
September 12, 2014
Junior distance standout Eli Horton was the Iowa Conference and regional men’s track MVP.
Central junior Eli Horton is continuing his ascent to national track and field prominence.
The standout distance runner was tabbed the USTFCCCA Central Region outdoor track athlete of the year for the second time after also receiving the indoor honor as well as a similar award from the Iowa Conference.
A sixth-place finisher in last November’s NCAA Division III men’s cross country meet, Horton placed fourth in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA track and field championships in Delaware, Ohio in May.
Horton’s efforts put Central 53rd in the NCAA men’s outdoor meet. Meanwhile, sophomore transfer Abi Davis propelled the Dutch to a 16th-place showing in the women’s meet, Central’s best finish since 2004. Davis was second in the NCAA 200 meters and fourth in the 100.
Sophomore Abi Davis posted top-four national finishes in the women’s 100 and 200 meters.
Davis also ran at the national meet in the 4×400-meter relay with junior Allie McBroom, junior Camie Kibbee and sophomore Monica Ruiz. Senior Austin O’Brien was also a national qualifier in the men’s 5,000 meters.
The Central men were second in the league outdoor standings while the women were fourth.