CSR (Men's and Women's Track and Field Recap From Rhodes Lynx Invite)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 26, 2006

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD RECAP FROM RHODES LYNX INVITE

MEMPHIS, TN * The Calvin men's and women's track and field teams put together another strong day of performances at the Rhodes Lynx Invitational Saturday afternoon.

Throwing events were again a strength for both Calvin teams. On the men's side, Calvin senior Nate Meckes (Bay City) matched his season-best in the discus with an NCAA III automatic qualifying and first place throw of 180-5. Meckes also took first place in the shot put with a strong NCAA III provisional qualifying throw of 55-4 ¾.

Calvin sophomore Ryan Jensen (Northview HS) also took first place in the hammer throw with a heave of 144-9 while adding a fourth place throw in the discus with a throw of 150-1. Senior Justin Grasmeyer (Norwalk, CA) helped the Calvin men go 1-2-4 in the discus as Grasmeyer took second with an NCAA III provisional qualifying throw of 160-1.

In the women's competition, Calvin junior Megann VanderVliet (Oakville, ON) had a banner day by winning the discus (131-1) and shot put (40-9 ½). Freshman Ashley Glover (Northview HS) was fourth in the shot put with a throw of 36-9 ½ and fourth in the discus with a heave of 114-5. Chipping in with a sixth place throw in the discus was sophomore Rachel VanderWiele (Holland Christian HS) with a throw of 112-5. In the women's javelin, senior Christine Hendricks (Cincinnati, OH) took second with a throw of 115-8 while freshman Annika Krygsman (Whitsinville, MA) was fifth (100-10).

Hendricks was part of a 1-2 Calvin finish in the 100 meter hurdles as sophomore Sarah Wittingen (East Grand Rapids HS) was first (15.41) and Hendricks second (15.86).

Freshman Lauren Bergstrom (Rochester, MN) also turned in a big effort in the 400 meters, placing third with a time of 58.45. Bergstrom then teamed up with Wittingen, junior Katie Bolt (Grand Rapids Christian HS) and junior Lisa Winkle (South Christian HS) in the 4x400 meter relay to win with an NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 3:54.57.

Bolt tied for first place in the high jump at 5-3 while Hendricks was fourth (5-1). Winkle led a trio of Calvin long jumpers that surpassed the 17-foot mark with Winkle taking fifth (17-5 ½), Hendricks sixth (17-3 ¼) and freshman Julie Bratt (Lynden, WA) seventh (17-2 ¼). In the triple jump, junior Lorilyn Vogel (Orange City, IA) was second with a jump of 35-8 ½. In the pole vault, senior Missy Smith (Grand Rapids Christian HS) took first place with a strong NCAA III provisional qualifying mark of 11-9.

In the 800 meters, senior Camille Medema (Grand Rapids Christian HS) continued her torrid start to the 2006 outdoor season, winning the race with an NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 2:14.26. In the 1,500 meters, junior Laura Holtrop (Rockville, MD) took third with a career-best time of 4:51.33. In the 5,000 meters, freshman Anne Fennema (Brookfield, WI) and sophomore Christina Overbeck (Seattle, WA) had sizzling performances with Fennema taking fourth (18:15.13) and Overbeck fifth (18:17.90). Freshman Calah Schlabach (St. Michaels, AZ) added a seventh place time of 18:27.33. In the 3,000 meter steeplechase, junior Lydia Singer (Wilmington, DE) was second with a 11:35.75.

In the men's distance events, the Knights were led by the one-two punch of Jed Christiansen (Greenville, PA) and junior Tim Finnegan (Los Alamos, NM) with Christiansen taking third in the 5,000 meters with an NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 14:41.69 while Finnegan was fourth in 14:49.43. In the 3,000 meter steeplechase, Calvin senior Harrison Jorritsma (Beamsville, ON) took first place honors with a time of 9:28.48.

In the 800 meters, Calvin freshman Brian Odegaard (Afton, MN) made a strong push for the win but settled for second place with a time of 2:00.31 that was a half-second behind Taylor's Josh Edgerton.

One individual who did bring home a win for Calvin was senior Tim Zwiers (Pella, IA) who continued his strong spring with a first place performance of 43-2 ½ in the triple jump.

Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team of freshman Brad Stroner (Lakewood-Lake Odessa HS), senior Brian VanDyken (Grand Rapids Christian HS) and sophomores Joel Baker (Kalamazoo Christian HS) and Jared Cok (Bozeman, MT) took first place with a time of 3:24.49.

In the 400 meters, Baker was second (50.21) and Cok third (50.49).

Both Calvin track and field teams will now prep for MIAA dual meets with Adrian and Tri-State next Saturday with Tri-State serving as host.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sun Mar 26 22:55:00 2006