May 23, 2005
Calvin Sending 17 to NCAA III Track & Field Championships
The Calvin men's and women's track and field teams will send a combined 17 athletes to the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field championships this weekend. The Calvin men will send six individuals while the Calvin women will send 11 to the national meet.
The national meet will be hosted by Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. The first day of competition is slated for Thursday, May 26. The final day of competition will be held on Saturday, May 28.
A year ago, the Calvin women finished second as a team with 54.3 points, matching its highest-ever national team finish while the Calvin men finished 32th with nine points. The Calvin women have posted 10 consecutive top-20 national finishes and have four top-four national finishes during the span. The Calvin men have posted 10 top-10 national finishes overall including three in the top four.
Both Calvin track and field teams captured MIAA titles this spring with the men winning their 12th straight league crown and the women their 16th straight league title. Both championship streaks are the longest in MIAA men's and women's track and field history respectively.
Calvin has finished in the top ten at nationals on the women's side eight times in the last 11 years including second place finishes in 2001 and 2004. In 2004, Calvin finished just three points away from a national title as it posted a second place team score of 54.3 points with Wisconsin-Oshkosh taking the title with 57 points.
Calvin Women's Track and Field National finishes Over the last 11 years
2004 * Second place
2003 * Sixth Place
2002 * Twelfth Place
2001 * Second Place
2000 * Fifth Place
1999 * Fourth Place
1998 * Eleventh Place
1997 * Seventh Place
1996 * Seventh Place
1995 * Twelfth Place
1994 * Third Place
The Calvin men, who finished in 32nd place last year, have finished in the top ten four times in the last six years and in the top 25 nine of the last 11 years.
Calvin Men's Track and Field National finishes Over the last 11 years
2004 * 32nd place
2003 * 13th place
2002 * 2nd place
2001 * 5th place
2000 * 9th place
1999 * 6th place
1998 * 24th place
1997 * 21st place
1996 * 22nd place
1995 * 11th place
1994 * 37th place
A full schedule of this week's NCAA III Track and Field Championships can be found on the Wartburg web site at: http://www.go-knights.net/ncaatrack/index.html. Up-to-date meet results will be posted at: www.Raceberryjam.com.
The following is a biographical breakdown of the 17 individuals that will represent Calvin at the national meet this week.
Calvin's National Meet Track Teams
Calvin men
JEFF ENGBERS-A native of Whitinsville, Massachusetts (Whitinsville Christian High School) who is a senior, Engbers will compete in the 1,500 meters where he is seeded 17th (3:53.23). Engbers is making his second trip to the national meet. At the 2004 NCAA III Championships, he took 10th in the 1,500 meters.
NATE MECKES-A native of Bay City (Lutheran Westland High School) who is a junior, Meckes will compete in the shot put and discus and will be making his second trip to nationals. He is seeded second in both events and was an All-American in both events at the 2003 national meet, placing sixth in the discus and fourth in the shot put. Earlier this spring, Meckes captured MIAA titles in the shot put and discus, setting league records in both events. He was named to the All-MIAA team and was voted the MIAA's Most Outstanding Field Performer for the second time in his career. Meckes has also shattered Calvin records in the shot put and discus this spring. He is seeded second in the discus (189-0) and seventh in the shot put (58-7 1/2).
JUSTIN GRASMEYER-A native of Norwalk, California (Valley Christian High School) who is a junior, Grasmeyer will compete in the discus and will be making his second trip to nationals. A year ago, Grasmeyer recorded All-America honors in the event with a seventh place finish. Headed into the national week, Meckes is seeded 10th (167-3).
KRIS KOSTER-A native of Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids Christian High School) who is a fifth-year senior, Koster will compete in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Koster is making his second trip to the national meet. A year ago, he competed in the 10,000 meters but did not finish the race because of heat exhaustion. A 2003 All-American in cross country, Koster was the MIAA champion in the 5,000 meters earlier this month and landed a spot on the All-MIAA track and field team for the first time in his career. Koster is seeded fourth in the 10,000 meters (30:09.21) and 14th in the 5,000 meters (14:33.62).
TIM FINNEGAN-A native of Los Alamos, New Mexico (Home Schooled) who is a sophomore, Finnegan will compete in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters and will be making his first trip to nationals. A two-time All-American in cross country, Finnegan missed the bulk of the 2004 track and field season with a stress fracture. Healthy this spring, Finnegan captured the 2005 MIAA title in the 10,000 meters and earned a spot on the All-MIAA track and field team. Finnegan is seeded third in the 10,000 meters (30:06.94) and ninth in the 5,000 meters (14:30.96).
JOSH MECKES-A native of Bay City (Lutheran Westland High School) who is a sophomore, Meckes will compete in the long jump and will be making his second trip to nationals. Earlier this spring, Meckes captured an MIAA titles in the long jump and was named to the All-MIAA team. A two-sport athlete, Meckes was the starting center on Calvin's men's basketball team that reached the NCAA III Final Four this spring. At the 2004 NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Meckes qualified in the long jump and posted the 10th-best jump (22-7 ¾). He is seeded 10th this year with a jump of 23-8 1/4 that took place this past Friday at a last-chance meet hosted by North Central College.
Calvin women
SUE ABBRING-A senior from Highland, Indiana (Illiana Christian High School), Abbring is making her fourth straight trip to the national meet. Abbring is scheduled to compete in the 200 and 400 meters and in the 4 x 400 meter relay. Abbring is the top seed in the 200 meters (22.40) and the second seed in the 400 meters (55.80). Calvin's 4 x 400 meter relay team is also the top seed (3:46.14). Earlier this year, Abbring was named the MIAA's Most Outstanding Runner for the second straight year after repeating as league champion in the 100 and 200 meters for the fourth straight year. Abbring was also named to the All-MIAA track and field team for the fourth straight year. Over the course of her Calvin career, Abbring has been a part of eight All-America finishes. A year ago, Abbring took seventh in the 100 meters, third in the 200 meters and was a member of Calvin's fourth place 4x100 and third place 4x400 meter relay teams.
LAURA HAMILTON-A senior from Downers Grove, Illinois (Timothy Christian High School), Hamilton is making her fourth straight trip to nationals. She will compete in the 400 hurdles where she is seeded 4th (1:01.95) and in the top-seeded 4x400 meter relay. A year ago, she ran on Calvin's All-America 4x400 meter and 4x100 relay teams while also placing third in the 400 meter hurdles. Earlier this spring, she captured the MIAA title in the 400 meter hurdles and landed a spot on the All-MIAA track and field team for the fourth straight year.
LISA NANNINGA-A native of Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids Christian High School) who is a senior, Nanninga will compete in the shot put and will be making his second trip to nationals. Earlier this spring, Nanninga captured the MIAA title in the shot put with a league record throw and was named to the All-MIAA team for a second straight year. She is seeded second in the shot put (46-11 1/2). A year ago, she took seventh at the 2004 national meet with a throw of 44-5 1/2. A two-sport athlete, Nanninga was the starting center on Calvin's women's basketball team that reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA III Tournament this past March.
CHRISTINE HENDRICKS-A freshman from Cincinnati, Ohio (Turpin High School), Hendricks is making her third straight trip to the national meet in the heptathlon. As a freshman in 2003, she garnered All-America accolades with an eighth place finish. She finished just out of the running for All-America honors last spring, placing ninth at the national meet. Earlier this spring, she captured the MIAA title in the javelin and was named the MIAA's Most Outstanding Field Event Performer. A three-time All-MIAA selection, Hendricks is seeded sixth in the heptathlon with a total of 4,570 points. A two-sport athlete, Hendricks was also a member of Calvin's volleyball team that earned a trip to the NCAA III Tournament this fall.
MISSY SMITH-A junior from Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids Christian High School), Smith is making her third straight trip to the NCAA III Championships. She will compete in the pole vault where she is seeded fifth (12-4). At the MIAA Championships earlier this month, Smith captured the league pole vault title with a league vault of 12-2. Smith is one of two MIAA competitors headed to the national meet in the women's pole vault as Hope sophomore Jen VanderMeer is seeded sixth in the event (12-2 1/2). Smith took 14th at the 2003 national meet and then collected All-America honors last spring as she finished tied for fourth place.
CAMILLE MEDEMA-A native of Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids Christian High School) who is a junior, Medema will be making her first trip to the national meet after just missing the final cut in 2003 and 2004. The MIAA champion in the 800 and 1,500 meters this year, Medema will compete in the 800 meters where she is seeded sixth (2:12.79). Medema is a two-time All-MIAA selection. Her time of 2:12.79 came last Friday night at a last-chance meet hosted by North Central College and also shattered an 11-year old Calvin record.
KIM VANDERZEE-A native of Shoreline, Washington (Shoreline High School) who is a junior, Vanderzee is making her second straight trip to the national meet and will compete in the high jump. A three-time All-MIAA selection and three-time MIAA champion in the high jump, Vanderzee tied for second in the event at the 2004 national meet with a jump of 5-5 ¾. She is currently seeded 10th in the event with a jump of 5-7.
MEGANN VANDERVLIET-A native of Oakville, Ontario (Oakville Trafalger High School), VanderVliet is making her second straight trip to the national meet. VanderVliet will compete in the shot put and discus where she is seeded fourth (46-1 1/4) and 10th (142-9) respectively. A year ago, she took 12th in the shot put (43-1 ½) and later qualified for the Canadian Summer Olympic Trials.
LYDIA SINGER-A Wilmington, Delaware (Hillcrest Academy of Jos, Nigeria) who is a sophomore, Singer will compete in 3,000 meter steeplechase where she is seeded 9th (10:57.8). Earlier this month, Singer captured the MIAA title in the steeplechase and earned a spot on the All-MIAA track and field team. Singer is making her first-ever trip to the national meet.
LISA WINKLE-A native of Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids South Christian High School) who is a sophomore, Winkle is making her second straight trip to the national meet. She will compete in the 400 meters where she is seeded 18th (57.33) and in Calvin's top-seeded 4x400 meter relay. A year ago, Winkle was a member of Calvin's third place 4x400 meter and fourth place 4x100 meter relay teams. Earlier this month, Winkle captured the MIAA title in the long jump and earned a spot on the All-MIAA track and field team. Also a two-sport athlete, Winkle was the starting forward on the Calvin's women's basketball team that reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA III Tournament this past March.
SARAH WITTINGEN-A native of East Grand Rapids (East Grand Rapids High School) who is a freshman, Wittingen will compete in the 100 meter hurdles, 400 meter hurdles and as a member of Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team. She is seeded 16th in the 100 meter hurdles (14.67) and seventh in the 400 meter hurdles (1:02.68). Earlier this spring, she was named to the All-MIAA track and field team after placing second in the 100 and 400 meter hurdles.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Tue May 24 00:19:04 2005
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