Central Regains Men’s Track Crown

Senior Drew Jackson celebrates crossing the finish line with senior Timothy Shepherd as Shepherd takes the Iowa Conference title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

It was a return to the top for the Central men’s track and field team, and the Dutch women’s squad was not far behind.

The men scored 213 points and regained the Iowa Conference outdoor crown, its fifth in the last seven years, while the women rolled up 147.75 points for second place.

Central was dominant in the men’s distance events. Junior Cole Decker swept the 5,000- and 10,000-meter runs and senior Timothy Shepherd was the 3,000- meter steeplechase victor. Junior Dan Roemerman took the 110-meter hurdles, senior Eric Larson won the long jump and the 4×800 relay team of freshman Mark Fairley, senior Jamie Vander Veer, senior Eli Horton and Jackson was first.

Junior Abi Davis again shined in the women’s sprints, sweeping the 100 and 200 and teaming with senior Allie McBroom, junior Monica Ruiz and freshman Kate Patton to take the 4×100 relay, then joining senior Camie Kibbee, junior Ashlee Downs and McBroom to win the 4×400. McBroom also captured the 400.

Larson closed a spectacular career by overcoming injury to take sixth in the men’s decathlon at the NCAA Division III meet in Canton, N.Y. A two-time national champ, he earned all-America distinction for the fifth time. Decker was also an all-American, finishing eighth in the 10,000 meters.