Calvin Track and Field Teams Capture Millikin Classic

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT (PART TWO) FOR APRIL 17, 2004

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD

DECATUR, IL -- For the second time this year, Calvin men's and women's track
and field teams combined to sweep a large invitational as both teams took first
place at the Millikin Classic Saturday. Millikin will also serve as host of
the 2004 NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships May 26-28.

In the men's competition, Calvin edged Division III power North Central (IL)
for first place with a team score of 145 points, 9.5 points ahead of the second
place Cardinals and 15 points ahead of third place Greenville College. In the
women's competition, Calvin rolled to a first place total of 195 points in a
field of 14 teams, 99 points ahead of second place Greenville College.

Earlier this spring, both Calvin teams took first place at the Emory Springtime
Invitational.

In the women's competition, Calvin took first place in 11 events. Juniors Sue
Abbring (Highland, IN) and Laura Hamilton (Downers Grove, IL) were catalysts
for the Knights. Abbring shattered her own school record in winning the 100
meters with a strong NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 12.08, just over a
tenth of a second away from an automatic qualifying mark and four hundreths of
a second faster than her previous school record of 12.12. Hamilton came up
with a season-best and NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 1:02.46 in
winning the 400 meter hurdles. The dynamic duo also hooked up in both relays
with Calvin posting first place and NCAA III provisional qualifying times in
both events. In the 4x100 meter relay, freshman Meredith Homer (Charlton, WA),
freshman Lisa Winkle (South Christian HS), Hamilton and Abbring clocked in with
a time of 48.64, three tenths of a second faster than Calvin's previous
season-best in the event. In the 4x400 meter relay, Hamilton, freshmen Katie
VanderLaan (Grand Rapids Christian HS) and Jill Capel (Unity Christian HS) and
Abbring turned in a season-best and NCAA III provisional qualifying time of
3:55.63, more than a second faster than the quartet's previous season-best
time.

Other winners for the Calvin women included sophomore Camille Medema (Grand
Rapids Christian HS) in the 800 meters (2:22.62); senior Sarah Hastings
(Traverse City Central HS) in the 5,000 meters (18:56.94), freshman Lorilyn
Vogel (Orange City, IA) in the 100 meter hurdles (15.65, season-best), freshman
Lydia Singer (Wilmington, DE) in the steeplechase (12:26.89), sophomore Missy
Smith (Grand Rapids Christian HS) in the pole vault (11-3 3/4), junior Lisa
Nanninga (Grand Rapids Christian HS) in the shot put (43-9) and senior Katie
Corner (Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS) in the discus (142-7).

With the temperatures warm and muggy, conditions were ideal for sprinters and
several other Calvin athletes turned in season-best times in sprints. Homer
clocked in with season-best times of 12.72 in the 100 and 26.51 in the 200
while freshman Lisa Geelhoed (Grand Rapids Christian HS) had a season-best time
of 12.85 in the 100 meters. Medema also took second in the 1,500 (4:50.40)
while senior Jodi VerMeulen (Holland Christian HS) was third (4:51.61). In the
high jump, Calvin went 2-3-4 with freshmen Katie Bolt (Grand Rapids Christian
HS) and Lauren Colyn (Kalamazoo Christian HS) along with sophomore Kim
Vanderzee (Shoreline, WA) all hitting the 5-2 1/2 mark.

In the men's competition, Calvin took first place in seven events. Senior Dave
Haagsma (South Christian HS) highlighted the afternoon for the Knights by
winning the 5,000 meters with a season-best and NCAA III provisional qualifying
time of 14:45.70. Haagsma led a 1-2-3-4-5 Calvin finish with senior Tim Avery
(Rochester, NY) taking second, senior Kris Koster (Grand Rapids Christian HS)
taking third, senior Matt Edwards (Grand Blanc HS) taking fourth and junior
Andy Yazzie (Rehoboth, NM) taking fifth.

Junior Jeff Engbers (Whitinsville, MA) also turned in a season-best time of
3:57.18 in winning the 1,500 meters while freshman Ben Hammer (Elk Rapids HS)
had a strong time of 33.38.47 in taking first place in his first collegiate
10,000 meter run. Other winners for the Calvin men included junior Harrison
Jorritsma (Beamsville, ON) in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (9:38.61), junior
Reuben Sportel (South Christian HS) in the 400 meter hurdles (55.18,
season-best), sophomore Justin Grasmeyer (Norwalk, CA) in the discus (158-7)
and the 4x400 meter relay team of sophomore Brian VanDyken (Grand Rapids
Christian HS), sophomore Tim Zwiers (Pella, IA), senior Josh Berghuis (Unity
Christian HS) and Sportel winning in a season-best time of 3:23.65. Sportel
also turned in a season-best time of 15.17 in taking third in the 110 high
hurdles.

Sophomore Chris Friebel (Shelby, OH) added a season-best time of 10.90 in
taking third place in the 100 meters while Berghuis had a season-best time of
51.08 in taking eighth in the 400 meters. Calvin's 4x100 meter relay team of
freshmen Rob Zandtra (Illiana, IL) and Josh Meckes (Saginaw Valley Lutheran HS)
along with VanDyken and Friebel added a season-best time of 43.70 in taking
fifth place. In addition, Zwiers had a season-best effort of 43-10 3/4 in
placing fourth in the triple jump.

Both Calvin track and field teams return to action next Wednesday when they
journey to Alma for dual meets against the host Scots and against Adrian
College. Wednesday's competition will begin at 2:00 p.m..

A complete listing of Saturday's Millikin Classic results can be found at:
http://www.millikin.edu/athletics/track/2004results/04class.html

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat Apr 17 23:31:27 2004