April 11, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
Both Calvin track and field teams opened defense of their MIAA titles with dual
meet victories over Hope and Olivet Wednesday afternoon in Holland.
On the men's side, Calvin defeated Hope 93.5-58.5 and Olivet 129-17. In the
women's competition, Calvin defeated Hope 109-40 and Olivet 143-2.
In the men's competition, Calvin used its depth in the distance events along
with the fast legs of senior Phil Sikkenga (Wheaton, IL) in the sprint events to
pull away for the victories. A two-time MIAA MVP, Sikkenga blasted his way to
first place times in the 100 meters (11.09) and 200 meters (21.81) while also
anchoring Calvin's 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 meter relay teams to first place
victories with respective times of 42.74 and 3:20.42. In the 4 x 100 meter
relay, Sikkenga took the baton on the anchor leg in third place and exploded
down the home stretch to help Calvin gain the win.
Senior Paul Petersen (Crawfordsville, IN) also helped set an early tone for the
Knights as he came up with a career-best time of 3:58.23 in winning the 1,500
meters, using a strong kick in the final lap to win the race. Petersen was part
of a 1-3 Calvin finish in the event as junior Peter Armstrong (Lacey, WA) was
third in 4:01.27.
In the 3,000 meters, freshman Dave Haagsma (South Christian) was super for the
maroon and gold as he churned his way to a first place time of 8:52.97 while
junior Dave Ritsema (Denver, CO) was second (8:58.24) and sophomore Brian Paff
(San Diego, CA) third (9:02.58).
Calvin also went 1-2-3 in the 5,000 meters as junior Justin Momany-Pfruender
(Midland) won with a time of 15:44.78 while freshman Joel Reasoner (Cambridge,
MN) was second (15:49.05) and senior Kevin VerBeek (Lansing, IL) third
(15:51.82).
Other individual winners for Calvin included senior Mark DeWeerd (Unity
Christian) in the pole vault (15-6); senior Derek Kleinheksel (Hamilton) in the
high jump (6-4); Armstrong in the 800 meters (1:58.21) and junior Keith VanGoor
(Midland Park, NJ) in the 400 meters (48.85). DeWeerd led a 1-2-3 Calvin finish
in the pole vault as junior Jason DeVries (Unity Christian) was second (14-6)
and freshman Dan Rinzema (Unity Christian) third (14-0).
On the women's side, Calvin took first place in 16 events with junior Lindsay
Mulder (Calvin Christian) helping lead the way as she came up with an NCAA III
automatic qualifying mark of 18-9 to win the long jump and then won the 100
meters in 12.84 and the 200 meters in 25.78. Senior Sara Veltkamp (Grand Rapids
Christian) also had a big day as she won the 400 meters in a strong NCAA III
provisional qualifying time of 57.19. Senior Andrea Rip (Bothell, WA) also had
an NCAA III provisional effort in the javelin, winning the event with a throw of
128-0.
In the distance events, Calvin received standout efforts from freshman Jessie
Lair (West Bloomfield) and junior Lindsay Carrier (Tri-unity Christian) with
Lair winning the 5,000 meters in 18:15.46 and Carrier winning the 3,000 in
10:28.96.
Sophomore Annie VanderLaan (Grand Rapids Christian) was also a double-winner for
the Knights, winning the 100 meter hurdles in 15:60 and the 400 meter hurdles in
1:04.63.
Oher winners for Calvin included freshman Stephanie Holwerda (Unity Christian)
in the high jump (5-2); sophomore Anna VanDrie (Grand Rapids Christian) in the
pole vault (10-6); junior Mae Baber (Brandon, WI) in the triple jump (35-4);
junior Kris Lumkes (Elkhorn, WI) in the 1,500 meters (4:58.99) and senior Megan
Pierce (Fort Wayne, IN) in the 800 meters (2:18.03).
Calvin also swept both relay events, winning the 4 x 100 meter relay with a time
of 48.50 and the 4 x 400 meter relay with a time of 3:56.55.
Both Calvin teams return to action Saturday when they host Alma in an MIAA dual
meet scheduled to begin at noon.
-end-
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