MAY 2, 2002
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
ALBION, MI - A pair of record-setting performances highlighted the first day of
competition for the Calvin men's and women's track and field teams at the
MIAA Championships. Both Calvin teams will head into Friday's competition in
first place as the Calvin women have a first place total of 81 points, 36 points
ahead of second place Hope, while the Calvin men hold a slim two-point lead over
Albion with a first place total of 48 points.
In the women's competition a pair of Grand Rapids Christian High School
graduates established new records for the Knights as senior Rachel Veltkamp won
the pole vault with an MIAA record height of 11-7 while junior Annie VanderLaan
shattered her own Calvin record in the prelims of the 100 meter hurdles,
clocking in with an NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 14.75. The
performance by Veltkamp marked the third straight year she has captured the MIAA
pole vault title while also adding one inch to her previous MIAA record of 11-6.
VanderLaan's previous 100 meter hurdle record had been 14.91. Her new record
time of 14.75 is also the sixth-fastest time in the event in NCAA III women's
track and field this spring.
Veltkamp led a 1-2 Calvin finish in the pole vault as junior Anna VanDrie
(Grand Rapids) took second with a height of 9-6. In addition, Veltkamp took
second in the long jump with a leap of 17-5. Calvin also produced a 1-2 finish
in the discus as sophomore Katie Corner of Grand Rapids Catholic Central High
School took first place with a mark of 147-10 while senior Liz Blevins (Marion)
was second with a throw of 126-10. Also claiming an MIAA title for the Calvin
women was sophomore Sarah Hastings (Traverse City) as she took first place in
the 10,000 meter run with a time of 38:37.90. Hastings was part of a 1-3-4-5
Calvin finish in the 10K as junior Sarah Tinholt (Kalamazoo Christian) was third
(39:04.70); senior Candace VanderGriff (Charlevoix) was fourth (41:11.30) and
junior Katie Vanbeek (Grand Rapids Christian) fifth (42:37.80).
In the men's competition, Calvin crowned a pair of MIAA champions as
sophomore Dave Haagsma (South Christian) repeated as league champion in the
10,000 meters while freshman Nate Meckes (Bay City) made his first league
competition a big one as he won the shot put with a throw of 48-7 ¼. Meckes was
part of a 1-2 Calvin finish in the shot put as junior Nick VanderPlas (McBain
Christian) was second with a throw of 47-00 ¾.
Haagsma took first in the 10,000 meters with an NCAA III provisional qualifying
and personal-best time of 31:23.46. Also taking third for Calvin in the men's
10,000 meters was sophomore Kris Koster (Grand Rapids Christian) with a time of
31:55.27. In the men's javelin, Calvin senior Ben Talsma (Western Michigan
Christian) took second with a throw of 181-2.
Action continues for both teams on Friday with field event finals scheduled to
begin at 10:00 a.m. and running evens slated to start at 1:30 p.m..
MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS WOMEN'S STANDINGS THROUGH 5-2-02
Calvin 81
Hope 45
Alma 11
Albion 9.5
Adrian 8.5
MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN'S STANDINGS THROUGH 5-2-02
Calvin 48
Albion 46
Alma 38
Adrian 10
Hope 9
Olivet 1
SOFTBALL
ALMA, MI - Calvin experienced both ends of the spectrum on the first day of
competition at the MIAA Tournament, upsetting regular-season champion Alma 1-0
in the first round and then bowing to rival Hope in mercy-rule fashion 13-3 in
the winner's bracket final. Calvin (20-16) and Alma (24-9) will now meet for
the second time in as many days in the loser's bracket final Friday at noon.
The winner will advance to the championship game to face Hope (22-15) at 2:00
p.m.
Calvin entered the MIAA tournament as the number-four seed in today's
double-elimination action while also making its first tournament appearance
since 1999. The Knights opened against the top-seeded Alma Scots who only
suffered two league losses in the regular season (12-2). Calvin opened the
first inning with the leadoff batter, senior Lyndsay Heinkel (Milwaukee, WI),
drawing a walk. She was then advanced to second base on a single to center
field by sophomore Trisha Balkema (Highland, IN). The next batter, freshman
Laurel Sands (Rockford), advanced Heinkel to third on a fielder's choice.
With two outs, senior Susannah Knust (Grandville) doubled to left-center field
to bring in the only run of the game. In the 1-0 final, the Knights scored one
run on three hits with no errors. The Scots scored no runs on five hits with no
errors. Freshman pitcher Rachelle Heyboer (Fremont) went the distance for
Calvin scattering five hits over seven innings with only one walk and seven
strikeouts. The shutout was the fifth of the year for Heyboer and also marked
her 15th complete game of the season. Heinkel, Balkema, and Knust had the hits
for Calvin.
The victory was Calvin's first over Alma since 1997. It also allowed the
Knights to reach the 20-win plateau for the first time since 1998
The Knights moved on to face Hope College in the winner's bracket as Hope
defeated Albion 2-1 in game one of the day. Scoring started in the top of the
second when Hope erupted to score six runs on five hits and one Calvin error.
Hope added two runs in the next inning to extend their lead to 8-0. In the
bottom of the third inning, Calvin struck for the first time in the game as it
brought three runners to the plate, cutting the Hope lead to 8-3. Scorers for
the Knights were Heinkel, sophomore Rachel Dyksterhouse (Kalamazoo Christian),
and senior Joanne Haven (Dorchester, ON). That would end the Calvin threat as
Hope added five in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 13-3. This lead
brought in the mercy rule to finish the game after five. Sophomore Keri Cole
(Mason County Eastern) started at the mound, left the mound after two innings as
she gave up five hits and six runs, two of which were earned. Heyboer came in
to relieve Cole, but did not have any better luck. She gave up three hits and
two runs. Freshman Kara Van Kooten (Anchorage, AK) relieved Heyboer for the
final two innings, but gave up five hits and five runs. Heinkel and Cole had
double hits games for Calvin, while Sands and Haven each added a hit of their
own.
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