The Central College men’s and women’s track and field squads had six members earn All-Central Region outdoors for the outdoor season from the USTFCCCA. To be named All-Region, an athlete must either be ranked in the top-5 of an individual event in the region or be part of a top-3 relay team.
Brock Lewis led the way with a pair of all-region performances in the triple jump and long jump. Sam Beatty achieved the feat in the high jump and Caleb Silver accomplished it in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Kiki Pingel also had two events in which she was all-region, earning the honors in the heptathlon and 100-meter hurdles. Mary Gray also was an all-region performer in the heptathlon as Gillian Streit was recognized for his discus throwing.
Another individual champion was crowned and four more all-conference accolades were awarded to the Central College men’s track and field team at the American Rivers Conference Championships Saturday. The Dutch finished fourth in the team standings with 133 points. Wartburg College had a winning total of 247 points.
Brock Lewis secured an individual title with a triple jump of 46 feet, 3.5 inches, a slight improvement of his previous best effort of the season. Nate Sanders came within .39 seconds of winning the 5,000-meter run, placing second in 14:54.51.
After grabbing the last qualifying spot in the 400-meter dash Friday, Nolan Reynolds jumped all the way from eighth to third to earn all-conference accolades in a time of 49.34 seconds.
Central athletes win major campus awards
PELLA Three Central College senior student-athletes received major honors for their impact on campus.
The awards were announced as part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council’s (SAAC) Dutchies event Sunday evening, held at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.
Laurynn Mize (senior, Sycamore, Ill.), who competes in women’s tennis and triathlon, received the Prins Sportsmanship Award, women’s track and field athlete Kiki Pingel (senior, Pella) received the Marjorie Giles Student Life Leadership Award and baseball player Chris Hensley (senior, Ottumwa) was presented the Ron Schipper Leadership Award.
The Prins Sportsmanship Award, named after Tunis W. and Harriet B. Prins, is given to a student, athlete or non-athlete, who has demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship in dealing with fellow students on campus or in meeting life’s challenges.
A Pella High School graduate and Central College senior student-athlete received a major honor for her impact on campus.
The awards were announced as part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council’s (SAAC) Dutchies event Sunday evening, held at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.
Kiki Pingel received the Marjorie Giles Student Life Leadership Award, given to a junior or senior who has demonstrated positive values through faith-based leadership in a variety of co-curricular activities.
Pingel is a four-year letterwinner in track and field. She is a three-time all-academic honoree and received American Rivers academic all-conference distinction in 2019 and 2020. Pingel earned All-Central Region honors four times for indoor and outdoor performances while gaining six all-conference honors six times. She also received the Dutch Spirit Award in 2019. She’s served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and was a member of the Health Professions Club.
Three Central College senior student-athletes received major honors for their impact on campus. The awards were announced as part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council’s (SAAC) Dutchies event Sunday evening, held at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.
Laurynn Mize, who competes in women’s tennis and triathlon, received the Prins Sportsmanship Award, women’s track and field athlete Kiki Pingel received the Marjorie Giles Student Life Leadership Award and baseball player Chris Hensley was presented the Ron Schipper Leadership Award.
The Prins Sportsmanship Award, named after Tunis W. and Harriet B. Prins, is given to a student, athlete or non-athlete, who has demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship in dealing with fellow students on campus or in meeting life’s challenges.