From: Jeff Febus (jfebus@calvin.edu)
Date: Sat Nov 02 2002 - 20:22:46 EST
CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 2, 2002
CROSS COUNTRY
ALMA - Calvin's nationally-ranked men's and women's cross country teams
continued impressive MIAA championship streaks on Saturday as the Calvin men
claimed their 16th straight league title while the Calvin women wrapped up their
15th straight MIAA crown. The championship streak by
the Calvin men's cross country is the second longest in MIAA athletic history
while the women's championship streak is the longest in MIAA women's athletic
history.
Both Calvin teams posted first place totals of 18 points at Saturday's MIAA
Championship meet hosted by Alma College. Ranked ninth in the latest NCAA III
poll, the Calvin men took four of the top five spots including seven of the top
10 to capture first place, 40 points ahead of second place Albion. Hope took
third with 74 points. Calvin sophomore Hendrik Kok (Lynden, WA) turned in a
dominating performance in claiming first place individually as he posted a time
of 25:15 in the 8K race. Calvin junior Tim Avery (Rochester, NY) was second in
25:38 followed by Albion junior Nick Mockeridge in third at 25:41. Close behind
were Calvin sophomores David Haagsma (South Christian HS) and Brian Maat
(Holland Christian HS) as Haagsma was fourth (25:44) and Maat fifth (25:48).
Calvin juniors Kris Koster (Grand Rapids Christian HS) and Brian Paff (National
City, CA) were sixth and seventh respectively with Koster clocking in at 25:55
and Paff at 25:58. Sophomore Jeff Engbers (Whitinsville, MA) also cracked the
top 10 for Calvin, finishing 10th in 26:16.
"It is always an honor to win an MIAA championship. It is certainly not
something we take for granted," said Calvin men's cross country coach Brian
Diemer. "I was very pleased with our team's pack running and with the way some
of our guys really stepped up to fill some gaps. Hendrik Kok and Tim Avery were
outstanding today but guys like Kris Koster, Brian Paff, Brian Maat and David
Haagsma also had excellent races. The encouraging thing about today is that we
still have room for improvement and if we can raise our performance another
notch in the next few weeks, we could achieve some even bigger things."
In the women's race, fifth-ranked Calvin claimed the top four spots including
five of the top eight in finishing 37 points ahead of second place Hope. Calvin
juniors Jessie Lair (Southfield Christian HS) and Sarah Hastings (Traverse City
Central HS) continued to provide a powerful one-two punch for the Knights as
Lair took first in the 6K race with a time of 22:12 while Hastings was second in
22:36. Senior twins Tami and Jodi VerMeulen of Holland Christian High School
were next for the Knights as Tami VerMeulen was third in 23:03 and Jodi
VerMeulen fourth in 23:03. Freshman Jen Walter (Sharon, MA) rounded out
Calvin's top five, placing eighth with a time of 23:51. Calvin's sixth runner
was senior Sarah Tinholt (Kalamazoo Christian HS) who took 11th in 23:56 while
freshman Camille Medema (Grand Rapids Christian HS) was 13th in 24:07.
"We're very pleased to remain MIAA champions," said Calvin women's cross
country coach Nancy Meyer. "We've struggled with injuries this year and we've
been forced to work harder to remain on top. Jessie Lair and Sarah Hastings ran
great like they have all year and I can't say enough about the senior leadership
of the VerMeulen twins. They have really stepped up and filled roles that
needed to be filled."
Hendrik Kok was named the MIAA's Most Outstanding Runner for the men while
Jessie Lair was so honored by the MIAA on the women's side.
MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS
Calvin 18 points
Albion 58 points
Hope 74 points
Alma 130 points
Kalamazoo 142 points
Olivet 145 points
MIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS
Calvin 18 points
Hope 55 points
Albion 114 points
Alma 124 points
Adrian 183 points
St. Mary's 195 points
ALL-MIAA MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY 1st TEAM
Hendrik Kok, Calvin College
Nick Mockeridge, Albion
Tim Avery, Calvin College
Brian Maat, Calvin College
David Haagsma, Calvin College
Brian Paff, Calvin College
Kris Koster, Calvin College
Joe Whitman, Alma
Adam Dohm, Albion
Jeff Engbers, Calvin College
ALL-MIAA MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY 2nd TEAM
Peter Derby, Hope
Tyson Warner, Hope
Sean Pack, Kalamazoo
Todd Falker, Albion
Kyle Morrison, Hope
Ryan Weaver, Hope
Jay Puffpath, Albion
Taurean Wilson, Albion
Kyle Williams, Hope
Greg Borst, Hope
MIAA's MOST OUTSTANDING RUNNER - Hendrik Kok (Sophomore), Calvin College
ALL-MIAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY 1ST TEAM
Jessie Lair, Calvin College
Sarah Hastings, Calvin College
Jodi VerMeulen, Calvin College
Tami VerMeulen, Calvin College
Sarah Ball, Kalamazoo
Danielle Hobbs, Adrian
Kristen Post, Hope
Tina Pike, Hope
Lauren Puretz, Kalamazoo
Camille Medema, Calvin College
ALL-MIAA WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY 2nd TEAM
Chris Alcenius, Hope
Sarah Tinholt, Calvin College
Katie Veldman, Hope
Leticia Grandia, Hope
Stacey Kandas, Albion
Loan Portlance, Albion
Jen Walter, Calvin College
Racherl Riemer, Hope
Elizabeth Colechio, Alma
Martha Graham, Hope
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