Central girls’ track off to running start
Central’s Emily Asche gets ready to lead off the 4x400 relay.
By Pat McTaggart
Freelance Writer
The Central girls’ track and field team participated in the Dickenson relays in Dubuque on March 3 with the following results: High jump—Anna Tuecke, 21st of 64, 4’8”; long jump—Ashley Funk, 62nd of 94, 13’7”; 60 m dash—Mary Kate Wille, 13th of 168, 8.30; Gabbi Lenth, 53rd of 168, 8.6; and Abby Gifford, 117th of 168, 9.1; 60 m hurdles—Anna Tuecke, 56th of 134, 10.9; Ashley Funk, 67th of 134, 11.1; and Rachel Berg, 88th of 134, 11.5; 4x200—Wille, Asche, Deitchler, Schroeder, 11th of 61, 1:52.05; 400 m—Haley Schroeder, 7th of 147, 1:02.1; and Abby Gifford, 89th of 147, 1:11.0; 200 m—Mary Kate Wille, 10th of 163,27.9. (PR); Gabbi Lenth, 63rd of 163, 29.5; and Anna Tuecke, 74th of 163, 29.9; 800 m—Haley Schroeder, 9th of 125, 2:27.8; and 4x400—Asche, Deitchler, Tuecke, Funk, 14th of 44, 4:25.2.
“This meet is traditionally loaded with 3A and 4A teams, and this year was no exception,” Coach Martha Bauder said. “Our goals in entering this meet were first of all to gain some more time on a real track facility, to try to reach the top 10-15 in a few events and then to improve our performances from our last meet. We did exceptionally well with our goals.
“Freshman Mary Kate Wille had an excellent day by qualifying for the final in the 60 m dash and finishing 13th amongst all 4A schools and one 3A school, and then to be top 10 in the 200 with another excellent time for this early in the season,” Coach Bauder continued. “She also helped the 4x200 run a season best time, along with Asche, Deitchler and Schroeder, and finish in 11th place.”
“Individually, Haley Schroeder also placed in the top 10 amongst the stiff competition in the 400 and 800, also with great times for this early in the season. The 4x400 of Asche, Deitchler, Tuecke and Funk had a great race as well by finishing in the top 15 and running a season best time. In that race, Deitchler and Funk both had personal record splits for themselves. Rachel Berg continues to be running faster hurdle times than last year, Abby Gifford is made some good progress in the 400m dash after recovering from her knee surgery and not having run a 400 for nearly two years and Gabbi Lenth nearly ran a personal in her 200 m dash.”
“Overall, the meet was very successful for us and will go a long way in setting us up for some good performances through the month of March and into April meets,” Coach Bauder added.
The team’s next action takes place March 19 at Luther College.
