From: Jeff Febus (jfebus@calvin.edu)
Date: Sat May 17 2003 - 16:59:45 EDT
CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR MAY 17, 2003
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
Calvin sophomore Nate Meckes continued his record-breaking track and field campaign Friday night at the Baldwin-Wallace Twilight Invitational as the Lutheran Westland High School graduate shattered the Calvin shot put record with a first place throw of 56-3 ¾. The throw by Meckes shattered the previous Calvin record of 55-7 established by three-time NCAA III All-American Steve Michmerhuizen in 1998. Meckes now owns Calvin records in the shot put and discus as well as MIAA records in both events.
The winning throw by Meckes in the shot put Friday night is the seventh-best throw in NCAA III Track and Field this spring. Meckes also owns the second-best discus throw on the current NCAA III Track and Field List at 177-2. On Friday night at Baldwin-Wallace, Meckes took third in the discus with a throw of 159-10.
Also taking first place individually for Calvin at the Baldwin-Wallace Twilight Invitational were senior Cameron Baron (Lake Stevens, WA) in the men's high jump (6-7), sophomore Sue Abbring (Highland, IN) in the women's 100 meter dash (12.33). In the women's 4 x 100 meter relay, the Calvin quartet of Abbring, junior Dana Haan (Lynden, WA), sophomore Laura Hamilton (Downers Grove, IL) and senior Annie VanderLaan (Grand Rapids Christian HS) took first with a time of 48.54.
Other notable Calvin performances on Friday included:
*senior Tami VerMeulen (Holland Christian HS) taking fifth in the women's steeplechase with a season-best and NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 11:16.33
*Hamilton placing second in the women's 400 meter hurdles (1:03.60)
*freshman Missy Smith (Grand Rapids Christian HS) taking second in the women's pole vault (11-7)
*Junior Katie Corner (Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS) taking second in the women's shot put (42-6) and third in the women's discus (138-11)
*Senior Nick VanderPlas (McBain Christian HS) taking fifth in the men's shot put (51-8 ¼)
*Senior Steve Abbring (Highland, IN) taking third in the men's 200 meters (22.66)
*Junior Carrie Zatarga (Coopersville HS) taking sixth in the women's hammer throw with a career-best throw of 141-6 that missed a school record by four inches.
Calvin also sent a contingent of distance runners to a last-chance meet hosted by North Central College Friday night. Highlighting the evening for Calvin was the performance turned in by freshman Camille Medema (Grand Rapids Christian HS) who posted a career-best and NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 2:14.81 in taking second in the 800 meters.
Calvin will now wait for the official announcement of the field for next week's NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The announcement is expected for Monday night.
CALVIN TRACK AND FIELD TEAMS CONTINUE TO HOLD NATIONAL RANKINGS IN DIVISION III POWER RANKINGS
The latest NCAA Division III power rankings have been released by the MF Athletic Company and both Calvin track and field teams continue to hold national rankings. In the women's power rankings poll, Calvin is ranked third, down one spot from the last ranking. Williams (MA) continues to hold the number-one spot while Wartburg (IA) has now moved into the number-one spot. Calvin is the top-ranked team from the Great Lakes Region.
In the lates men's power rankings poll, Calvin is ranked 17th, down 11 spots from the last set of rankings. Calvin is the top ranked team from the Great Lakes Region while MIAA rival Albion is one spot back of the Knights in the No. 18 spot. The University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse is currently the top-ranked team overall.
Sponsored by the MF Athletic Company, the power rankings have been released since 1999 and reflect the strength of a track and field team in head-to-head dual meet competition. The power rankings are tabulated by a cumulative point system. To submit a team for ranking, a school must submit two individuals in each events that is used in a head-to-head dual meet. In submitting an entry, the best time or performance of the year for the individual is submitted. An individual may not be listed in more than three individual events in the final weekly team entry.
The latest set of Division III power rankings and past archives can be found at: www.mfathletic.com
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