May 26 Report for Calvin Track and Field Teams at NCAA III Championships

MAY 26, 2005

NCAA III TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS REPORT FOR DAY ONE
(Written by Jeff Febus and Colin McWhertor)

WAVERLY, IA * Calvin College junior Nate Meckes made the most of ideal throwing conditions for discus on the first day of competition at the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Wartburg College.

A native of Bay City and a graduate of Westland Lutheran High School, Meckes unleashed a school record throw of 194-10 in the men's discus competition Thursday afternoon, breaking his previous school record by nearly five feet. His throw is the second-best throw in NCAA III track and field history. However, the top throw in NCAA III men's track and field history was also recorded on Thursday as Williams junior Dan Austin cranked out an incredible toss of 196-1 to win the discus with Meckes taking national runner-up honors.

The throws will likely qualify Meckes and Austin for the upcoming U.S. Track and Field Nationals.

Meckes was one of two All-Americans for Calvin in the men's discus on Thursday as junior teammate Justin Grasmeyer of Norwalk, California, took eighth with a career-best throw of 172-10, eclipsing his previous best throw by more than four feet.

With a strong head wind providing lift and length to the throws of Thursday's competitors, personal records were plentiful.

"It was a perfect day for throwing the discus and I made the most of the opportunity that I had," said Meckes. "I feel honored to have been in a competition like this. Dan Austin is an unbelievable discus thrower. To be up there with him means a lot to me."

Grasmeyer and Meckes both posted their second All-America berths in the discus on Thursday as Meckes was fourth in 2003 and Grasmeyer seventh in 2004. For Grasmeyer, the return to the All-America awards stand was a long road as he was forced to fight through a serious back injury this spring, limiting his practice and competition time.

"I couldn't ask for anything more," said Grasmeyer. "To throw my best in a national meet and get an All-America berth in a field like this is incredible. I feel very blessed to have reached this point because of the way I've struggled with my back this spring."

Grasmeyer and Meckes were part of four All-America performances by the Calvin men's track and field team on Thursday as senior Kris Koster (Grand Rapids Christian High School) and sophomore Tim Finnegan (Los Alamos, NM) were fifth and sixth respectively in the 10,000 meter run Thursday night. Their efforts allowed the Calvin men to build a third place total of 16 points through one day of competition.

Thursday's 10,000 meter run featured one of the most loaded fields in the history of NCAA III men's track and field. The race was won by hometown favorite and three-time cross country national champion Josh Moen in a time of 30:31.45 with Macharia Yuot of Widener taking second in 30:45.55. Pat Rizzo of North Central took third (30:46.90) with Ted Turner of Geneseo State fourth in 30:47.60. Koster ran with Moen and Yuot for much of the race before settling for fifth in the final lap, finishing with a time of 30:47.96. Running in his first ever national meet in track and field, Finnegan kept touch with the top eight runners and moved up to sixth place in the closing lap, finishing with a final time of 30:50.99.

"We're very pleased with Kris and Tim," said Calvin distance coach Al Hoekstra. "This might have been the deepest and most talented 10,000 meters in NCAA III history. Kris gave it everything he had and didn't back down from anyone and despite his inexperience, Tim ran a very smart race."

Brian Diemer who shares the distance coaching duties with Hoekstra agreed. "Kris has meant so much to our distance running program at Calvin because of how much heart he has," said Diemer. "He's a fifth-year senior who decided to come back for one more season after battling injuries in the past. To see him finish the way he did tonight is very pleasing. As for Tim, he ran like a veteran. He made the moves in the race when he needed to in order to become an All-American."

Also competing for the Calvin men on Thursday were senior Jeff Engbers (Whitinsville, MA) and sophomore Josh Meckes (Bay City, MI). Engbers ran in the 1,500 meter prelims and advanced to Saturday's championship final with a time of 3:58.69. Meckes competed in the long jump and despite a mark of 22-9, did not advance to the finals.

On the women's side, junior Christine Hendricks (Cincinnati, OH) had a strong
Showing in the first day of competition in the heptathlon, ending the day in 2nd place after four of seven events. She currently has 2,922 points, trailing the leader, Jillian Crandall of UW-River Falls, by only 10 points. Hendricks, from Cincinnati, Ohio, season best marks in two of her first three events by running the 100-meter hurdles in 15.03 seconds and jumping 5-3 in the high jump. Hendricks momentarily put herself in first place with a season best throw of 39-3 ¼ in the shot put and came out in second after clocking in with a time of 27.56 seconds in the 200-meter run..

Hendricks will continue the heptathlon tomorrow with the long jump at 12:00.
The javelin and 800-meter run will follow the long jump.

In the pole vault, junior Missy Smith, a native of Grand Rapids and a graduate
of Grand Rapids Christian earned All-American honors for the second straight
year. Smith vaulted a height of 12-2 ½ feet. Smith cleared her first three
heights with no problem and was able to clear the 11-8 level on her third
attempt. All six finalists failed on their attempts at 12-6 ½ and the outcome
was decided by previous misses and a jump-off. Hope College sophomore Jen VanderMeer finished in a tie for 2nd place.

The conditions were ideal for vaulting said Smith, "It was perfect weather except for the
strong tail wind, and it really pushed me forward," she said. "I could have used a longer
pole for that last jump, but I am happy to reach All-American again. I
accomplished what I wanted to, and I'll have more experience for next year."
Smith took fourth place in the pole vault at last year's national meet.

In the women's discus, Calvin sophomore Megann VanderVliet (Oakville, ON) was 12th with a throw of 125-3. Calvin also advanced two individuals and one relay into Saturday finals as senior Sue Abbring (Schereville, IN) was fourth overall in the prelims of the 200 meters (24.80) and senior Laura Hamilton (Downers Grove, IL) third overall in the prelims of the 400 meter hurdles (1:01.59). Abbring and Hamilton also teamed up with freshman Sarah Wittingen (East Grand Rapids HS) and sophomore Lisa Winkle (South Christian Hs) in the 4x400 meter relay as the quartet posted the second-fastest time of Thursday's prelims with a time of 3:47.45.

Wittingen also competed in the prelims of the 400 meter hurdles but her time of 1:04.52 did not advance her to Saturday's final.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Fri May 27 01:26:48 2005