The Central College women’s track and field squad has nine top-10 marks within the Central Region, propelling the Dutch to No. 5 in the first U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Central Region poll of the season.

Rankings are based off placement in the National Descending Order Lists. In the pentathlon, Central has the top-four marks in the region led by Mary Gray’s 2,891-point performance. Freshmen Kiki Pingel (Pella), Courtney Kruthoff, and senior Merissa Larson are the three spots behind Gray.

Gray is second in the 60-meter hurdles (9.28 seconds) while Kruthoff is second in the high jump (5 feet, 3 inches). Senior Kate Patton is fourth in the 60-meter dash (7.99) and seventh in the 400-meter dash (1:00.23)

The fourth-place 4×400-meter relay team consists of Paige Doehrmann, Gray, Hope Heitman and Lynzie Miller.

Nebraska Wesleyan University received the region’s top spot with league rivals University of Dubuque and Loras College taking the silver and bronze.

Central hosts the Dutch Athletics Classic Saturday, starting with field events at 11 a.m. and running events at 2 p.m.