CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2001
NCAA III TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS AT MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY (Day Two)
DECATUR, IL - Like Father. Like Daughter.
Displaying the same grit and determination that propelled her father to a
successful Calvin College athletic career, Calvin sophomore Annie VanderLaan of
Grand Rapids Christian High School became an NCAA III All-American in the
seven-event heptathlon competition Friday afternoon, finishing fifth with a
school-record total of 4,462 points. The daughter of Grand Rapids Christian
boys basketball coach Tom VanderLaan, Annie VanderLaan was competing in just her
third-ever heptathlon competition. She also became the third All-American
heptathlete in Calvin history, joining Becky Kuntzleman and Esther Vahrmeyer who
achieved the feat in the 1990's.
Seeded 13th heading into the two-day event, VanderLaan moved into third place
with a strong first day of competition on Thursday. She then opened the second
day of competition on Friday with a career-best mark of 16-10 in the long jump
and followed with a career-best throw of 73-7 in the javelin. Despite her
efforts, VanderLaan stood in eighth place heading into the final event - the 800
meters. VanderLaan then dug down in the 800 meters to post a fourth place time
of 2:24.60 that earned her more than 700 points and boosted her into fifth place
in the final standings. VanderLaan's total of 4,462 points surpassed the
previous record of 4,377 points set by Vahrmeyer in 1996.
VanderLaan's fifth place finish was also good for four points in the team
standings and left the Knights in a tie for first place with Wheaton of
Massachusetts with 20 points after eight events with one day of competition
left.
As he watched VanderLaan drive herself down the final stretch of the 800
meters, Calvin women's track and field coach Ralph Honderd knew he was watching
special athletic qualities he had seen before.
"When I was the men's basketball coach at Calvin I had the chance to coach
Annie's father Tom," said Honderd who served as men's basketball coach at Calvin
from 1971-1977. "Tom was one of the most determined and focused individuals I
have ever coached. He was the type of athlete who could always reach down deep
and come up with something extra when he needed it. I saw those same qualities
in Annie over the last two days. It was a privilege to coach Tom and it has
been a privilege to coach Annie."
With her father in attendance on Friday, VanderLaan was thrilled with her
finish. "I was really nervous on Thursday and I did not know exactly what to
expect in my first national meet," said VanderLaan. "My goal was to improve my
performance in all of my events and for the most part I did that which is really
exciting. I still have a lot of room for improvement, particularly in the
throwing events so I'm also excited about the future."
VanderLaan's performance was one of three All-America efforts by Calvin on
Friday as the men's team received All-America efforts from senior Derek
Kleinheksel (Hamilton HS) and sophomore Cameron Baron (Lake Stevens, WA). Both
individuals cleared the bar at 6-9 with Kleinheksel finishing third and Baron
finishing fourth on the basis of one additional miss at 6-9. It marked the
first time that Calvin has produced two All-American high jumpers in the same
year. It also marked the third consecutive All-America effort for Kleinheksel
who finished 7th at the 1999 national meet and 5th in 2000.
According to Calvin men's track and field coach Jong-Il Kim, Kleinheksel and
Baron pushed each other in a positive fashion. "Derek and Cameron pushed each
other all year and that proved to be a benefit for both of them," said Kim. "I
am very pleased with their performances. They peaked at exactly the right time
of the year."
Kleinheksel and Baron both agreed that they were able to feed off each other's
encouragement and direction. "Coach Kim is an awesome coach but we know that he
is not able to be there watching us every minute of every practice," said Baron.
"When we were working out alone, I was able to watch Derek and he was able to
watch me. When we did that, we would point out the flaws in our technique and we
would also encourage each other to do better."
"It was wonderful to have a training partner like Cameron and it was wonderful
to have a coach like Coach Kim," said Kleinheksel of his coach, a three-time
track and field Olympian for South Korea. "I have learned a lot about high
jumping and a lot about life from Coach Kim. I am very thankful to have had the
opportunity to be coached by him."
The pair of All-America efforts in the high jump allowed the Calvin men to
build a fifth place total of 14.5 points after nine completed events.
Both Calvin teams also came up with big performances in the preliminaries of
the 400 meters Friday night. In the men's 400 meter prelims, Calvin senior Phil
Sikkenga (Wheaton, IL) advanced to Saturday's finals with a school-record time
of 47.46, breaking his own school mark of 47.63. Sikkenga is the third seed for
Saturday's 400 meter finals. In the women's 400 meter prelims, Calvin advanced
three individuals to Saturday's championship final as senior Megan Pierce (Fort
Wayne, IN) gained the top seed with a time of 55.39. Senior Lindsay Mulder of
Calvin Christian High School advanced to Saturday's final with the sixth-fastest
time in the prelims with a time of 56.20. Calvin senior Sara Veltkamp of Grand
Rapids Christian High School also advanced to Saturday's final with the
seventh-fastest time of the night, clocking in with a time of 56.37.
Also competing for the Calvin men on Friday evening was junior David Ritsema
(Denver, CO) in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Ritsema finished 14th in 9:26.45.
-end-
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