May 19, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
The Calvin men's and women's track and field teams will head to the NCAA III Championships next week riding a surge of momentum as both teams had several excellent performances at the North Central College Invitational Friday evening in Naperville, Illinois.
On the men's side, Calvin came up with a pair of new NCAA III automatic qualifying performances. In the 400 meters, senior Phil Sikkenga (Wheaton, IL) qualified automatically with a school record and first place time of 47.63. A four-time NCAA III All-American, Sikkenga has now qualified automatically in the 110 high hurdles, 200 meters, 400 meters and in the 4 x 400 meter relay. Sikkenga also anchored Calvin's 4 x 100 meter relay team of freshman Jeff Konczal (Powell, OH), sophomore Steve Abbring (Highland, IN) and junior Keith Van Goor (Highland, IN) to an NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 41.87. Sikkenga's time of 47.63 in the 400 meters Friday night is the fifth fastest time in Division III men's track and field this spring. It also shattered the previous school record of 48.06 established by Jay Lumkes of Elkhorn, Wisconsin in 1999. Sikkenga now owns Calvin records in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters and 110 high hurdles and is also a part of the Calvin record in the 4 x 400 meter relay.
Senior Derek Kleinheksel (Hamilton) also qualified automatically in the high jump Friday evening as he took first place in the event with a career-best jump of 6-9 ½. Kleinheksel's previous best in the high jump had been 6-9. A two-time All-American in the event, Kleinheksel is ranked fifth on the Division III men's track and field performance list this spring.
The Calvin men also had a number of strong distance performances. In the 1,500 meters, junior Peter Armstrong (Lacey, WA) and senior Kevin VerBeek (Lansing, IL) both posted NCAA III provisional qualifying times as Armstrong took sixth with a time of 3:54.67 while VerBeek was seventh with a career-best time of 3:54.89. In the 10,000 meters, freshman Dave Haagsma (South Christian) took second with an NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 31:28.15.
Other notable performances included senior Eric Hansen (Big Rapids) taking third with a career-best time of 53.85 in the 400 meter hurdles and freshmen Kyle Carrick (Tokyo, Japan) and Casey Koopmans (Kenowa Hills) posting career-best times in the 3,000 meter steeplechase as Carrick was seventh in 9:29.33 while Koopmans was eighth in 9:38.55.
On the women's side, Calvin senior Sara Veltkamp (Grand Rapids Christian) continued her sensational spring as she took first place in the 400 meters with an NCAA III automatic qualifying and career-best time of 56.09. Her time is the fourth fastest time in NCAA Division III women's track and field this spring. Younger sister Rachel Veltkamp (Grand Rapids Christian) was also victorious on Friday, winning the pole vault with a mark of 11-6 ½ while also running a leg on Calvin's first place 4 x 100 meter relay team that clocked in with a time of 48.00.
Calvin also produced a strong "sister act" in the triple jump as senior Mae Baber (Brandon, WI) closed out her career in grand style with a second place and school record leap of 36-9 ½. Younger sister Rebecca Baber tied for fourth in the event with a jump of 34-7 ½.
The Calvin women finished the spring with 14 NCAA III automatic qualifying performances this spring along with nine provisional qualifying marks. The Calvin men finished the spring with seven NCAA III automatic qualifying performances along with 15 provisional qualifying marks.
The complete field for the 2001 NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be released Monday night at WWW.raceberryjam.com.
The NCAA III Championships are scheduled for May 24-26 at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. A year ago, the Calvin women finished fifth with 30 points while the men were ninth with 28.5 points.
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