From: Jeff Febus (jfebus@calvin.edu)
Date: Fri May 23 2003 - 17:13:25 EDT
Calvin Sports Report for May 23, 2003
VanderLaan Wins Nationals Title in Heptathlon;
freshman teammate takes 8th place
CANTON, NY - Knowing that she needed one of the finest performances of her
career to win a national championship, Calvin College senior Annie VanderLaan
dug down and did just that. Recording a career-best time of 2:19.69 in the
final event of the heptathlon - the 800 meters - VanderLaan overcame a 34-point
deficit to win the national title in the grueling two-day competition.
A graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School, VanderLaan had led the
heptathlon until the javelin throw when Central College (IA) junior Raegan
Schultz moved into first place after a throw of 126-2.
With the knowledge that she needed to finish at least four seconds ahead of
Schultz to win the heptathlon, VanderLaan broke out with the leaders in the
opening lap of the 800 meters and maintained her position in the top group
heading into the final 100 meters. Straining with every ounce of energy left
in her body, VanderLaan began to tire down the stretch with her legs locking up
with 20 meters to go. Reaching down for a final reserve, VanderLaan tumbled
across the finish line and fell to the track in a heap. Five seconds later,
Schultz crossed the line, allowing VanderLaan to reclaim first place and win
the national title.
VanderLaan finished with a school record total of 4,852 points 49 points ahead
of Schultz.
"It was a dramatic competition," said Calvin head track and field coach Jong-Il
Kim. "Annie's weakest event is the javelin and when she fell behind, she knew
she had to run as hard as she could in the 800 to win the national
championship. She loves to compete so I knew that she would give everything
that she had left and I am just thrilled for her."
VanderLaan was one of two Calvin All-Americans in the heptathlon Friday as
freshman teammate Christine Hendricks of Cincinnati, Ohio (Turpin High School)
took eighth to claim the final All-America spot. Hendricks finished with 4,364
points, seven points ahead of the ninth place finisher. Hendricks moved into
eighth place with a career-best throw of 116-9 in the javelin and then came up
with a career-best time of 2:30.65 in the 800 to hold on to eighth place.
"I am very happy for Christine," said Kim. "She has not had much experience
with the heptathlon and to see her be an All-American in just her fourth
heptathlon competition is amazing."
VanderLaan's national championship performance is the 12th national
championship performance in Calvin women's track and field history. She is
also the sixth individual in Calvin women's track and field history to win an
individual national title.
"I owe a lot to Coach Kim and the rest of our coaching staff," said VanderLaan
who has now earned All-America honors five times in her college career
including three times in the heptathlon. "They have taught me so much.
There's not a better coaching staff in the country. There's no way I could
have won today without their instruction."
VanderLaan still has work left to do on Friday night as she is scheduled to
compete in the trials of 100 meter hurdles where she is seeded fifth.
gave Calvin College senior Annie VanderLaan captured a national title in the
heptathlon Friday afternoon at the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field
Championships at St. Lawrence University. VanderLaan took first place with a
school record total of 4,852 points, 49 points ahead of Reagan Schultz of
Central College who placed second. VanderLaan faced a 34-point deficit heading
into the 800 meters - the final event of the seven-event heptathlon
competition. A native of Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian
High School, VanderLaan then cranked out a career-best time of 2:19.69 in the
800, six seconds better than Schultz who led heading into the 800.
VanderLaan is the sixth individual in Calvin women's track and field
history to capture an individual national title and the first to do so in the
heptathlon. It also marks the 12th national championship performance overall
for the Calvin women's track and field program including the relay events. All
12 national titles have come since 1993.
VanderLaan was one of two Calvin All-Americans in the heptathlon on
Friday as freshman teammate Christine Hendricks of Cincinnati, Ohio (Turpin
High School) took eighth to claim the final All-America spot. Hendricks
finished with 4,364 points, seven points ahead of the ninth place finisher.
Calvin has now crowned five All-Americans at the national meet between
its men's and women's teams including three in the women's competition.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Fri May 23 2003 - 17:14:01 EDT