CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR MAY 10, 2008
Track and Field Teams Close Out North Central Dr. Keeler Invitational In Style
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
NAPERVILLE, IL -- The Calvin men's and women's track and field teams closed out competition at the two-day North Central Dr. Keeler Invitational with a fantastic flourish Friday night. One of the biggest highlights of the meet was the school record performance of junior Lauren Bergstrom (Rochester, MN) who turned in an NCAA III automatic qualifying time of 4:31.04 in the 1500 meters breaking the previous Calvin record of 4:31.79 turned in by Sarah Gritter in 1999. Bergstrom now owns the 800 and 1500 meter records, having reset both marks this spring. Freshman Alison Tuuk (Grand Rapids Christian HS) also turned in a career-best time of 4:44.63 in the 1500 meter run.
Senior Sarah Wittingen (East Grand Rapids HS) also had a huge night, winning the 400 meter hurdles with a season-best and NCAA III automatic qualifying time of 1:00.30 that currently ranks as the top time in Division III women's track and field this spring. Wittingen also won the 100 meter hurdles with an NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 14.57.
In the 400 meters, sophomore Heather Koning (Kalamazoo Christian HS) took first place with an NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 57.24. Freshman Rachel Boerner () also took fifth with a season-best time of 58.94 while junior Kristen VanSickel (Pittsburgh, PA) was seventh in 59.47.
Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team of Bergstrom, VanSickel, Koning and Wittingen also took first with a time of 3:51.63.
In the 3,000 meter steeplechase, sophomore Elizabeth Smit (Kirkland, WA) took second with a career-best and NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 10:50.77. Junior Clah Schlabach (St. Michaels, AZ) also had a provisional qualifying time of 11:00.85 while junior Anne Fennema (Brookfield, WI) had a career-best time of 11:22.86 and sophomore Nicole Farr () a career-best time of 11:27.19.
In the triple jump, junior Julie Bratt (Lynden, WA) was third with a leap of 36-6 3/4.
On the men's side, Calvin had a monster effort in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with junior Nate DeHaan (South Christian HS) leading the way with a first place and NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 9:10.49, lopping nearly seven seconds off his previous best time. DeHaan was one of three Calvin runners to post provisional qualifying times in the event as sophomore George Visser had a provisional qualifying time of 9:19.11 and senior Dan VandenAkker (South Christian HS) a provisional qualifying time of 9:20.63.
In the 400 meters, senior Jared Cok (Bozeman, MT) took second with a career-best and NCAA III provisonal qualifying time of 48.00. Senior teammate Joel Baker (Kalamazoo Christian HS) was second in the 200 meters with a season-best time of 22.08.
Baker and Cok were then joined by junior Brad Stroner (Lakewood-Lake Odessa HS) and sophomore Zach VanderLaan (Holt Central Lutheran HS) to clock an NCAA III provisional qualifying and season-best time of 3:16.10 in the 4x400 meter relay.
Both Calvin track and field teams will return to North Central College next week to compete in the North Central Gregory Invitational, attempting to qualifying individuals for the national meet scheduled for May 22-24 at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat May 10 22:36:06 2008
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Sat May 10 2008 - 22:36:06 EDT