CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR MAY 20, 2006
CALVIN TRACK AND FIELD TEAMS CLOSE OUT NORTH CENTRAL INVITE WITH A FLOURISH
NAPERVILLE, IL * Athletes from the Calvin men's and women's track and field teams closed out the regular season with a flourish on Friday night at a last-chance meet hosted by North Central College.
In the women's competition, Calvin had a sensational evening highlighted by a sizzling performance by sophomore Sarah Wittingen (East Grand Rapids HS) who lowered the school record in the 100 hurdles for the second time this year by clocking in with an NCAA III automatic qualifying and first place time of 14.32. Her performance lowered her own school record in the event by more than two-tenths of a second.
Wittingen then joined freshman Jennifer DeFauw (Grosse Pointe North HS), junior Katie Bolt (Grand Rapids Christian HS) and junior Lisa Winkle to win the 4x400 meter relay with an NCAA III automatic qualifying time of 3:47.58.
Senior Camille Medema (Grand Rapids Christian HS) also continued her torrid pace on the track this spring, clocking in with a career-best and NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 4:35.42 in the 1,500 meters that stands a solid chance of advancing her into the national meet in the event.
In the 3,000 meter steeplechase, junior Lydia Singer (Wilmington, DE) came up with a career-best and NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 10:56.92 that also gives her a solid chance of returning to the national meet in the event.
Calvin's 4x100 meter relay team of junior Lisa Geelhoed (Grand Rapids Christian HS), junior Lorilyn Vogel (Orange City, IA), Wittingen and Winkle also took first place with a season-best and NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 48.26. That time will likely put the quartet on the bubble for national qualification. Geelhoed also took third in the 100 meters with a time of 12.98.
In the 800 meters, freshman Lauren Bergstrom (Rochester, MN) made her return from an injury by clocking in with an NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 2:15.22.
In the shot put, junior Megann VanderVliet (Oakville, ON) led a Calvin contingent by taking first place with a heave of 42-7. Senior Christine Hendricks (Cincinnati, OH) was fifth with a season-best throw of 38-9 while freshman Ashley Glover (Northview HS) was seventh with a throw of 37-3.
Hendricks also came up with a career-best and NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 14.70 in the 100 meter hurdles that should land her on the fence for national qualification in the event.
In addition, Winkle took first in the long jump with an NCAA III provisional qualifying mark of 18-4 ½ while Bolt tied for first in the high jump at 5-4 ¼ with junior Lauren Colyn (Kalamazoo Christian HS) taking third (5-2 ¼).
On the men's side, senior Nate Meckes (Bay City/Lutheran Westland HS) came up with one of his top throws of the year in the shot put, winning the event with an NCAA III automatic qualifying mark of 58-7 ¼.
Younger brother Josh Meckes (Bay City/Saginaw Valley Lutheran HS) took first place in the long jump with a mark of 23-0 ½.
In the 3,000 meter steeplechase, freshman Nate DeHaan (South Christian HS) sparkled, clocking in with a career-best and NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 9:22.45. The time will likely not qualify DeHaan for the national meet but is one of the top times turned in by a freshman in the storied steeplechase history of Calvin men's track and field.
Another big highlight came in the 4x400 meter relay as the Calvin quartet of junior Todd Schuster (Denver, CO), sophomore Jared Cok (Bozeman, MT), senior Chris Friebel (Fairborn, OH) and sophomore Joel Baker (Kalamazoo Christian HS) clocked in with a strong NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 3:13.73.
Freshman Brian Odegaard (Afton, MN) also came up with a career-best time of 1:57.57 in the 800 meters as did senior Tyler Zwagerman (Holland Christian HS) in the 1,500 meters (3:56.56). Freshman Michael Buist (Calvin Christian HS) also tied for first in the high jump (6-6 ¼).
Both Calvin teams will now await the announcement of the official field for the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships scheduled for next Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. The announcement of the field will likely be made early Monday evening.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat May 20 07:43:42 2006
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