CSR (Calvin Sending 15 To NCAA Track And Field Championships)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR MAY 17, 2009

Calvin Sending 15 to NCAA III Track and Field Championships

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD

The Calvin men's and women's track and field teams will send a combined 15 athletes to the upcoming NCAA III Track and Field Championships including 10 from its women's team and five from its men's team.

The following is a look at the 15 individuals that will represent the Calvin track and field program at the NCAA III Track and Field Championships this Thursday, Friday and Saturday (May 21-23) at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio.

MEN'S TEAM

JED CHRISTIANSEN -- (Greenville, PA/Greenville HS) -- A senior, Christiansen will be making his fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Christiansen will compete in the 10,000 meters where he is seeded eighth (30:21.10) and in the 5,000 meters where he is seeded fourth (14:22.56). A year ago, Christiansen took fifth in the 10,000 meters and 11th in the 5,000 meters. He will be competing in the 5,000 meters for the fourth straight year and in the 10,000 meters for the third time. This past spring, Christiansen competed at the NCAA III Indoor Track and Field Championships, finishing third in the 5,000 meters to become the first indoor All-American in Calvin men's track and field history.

NATE DEHAAN -- (Byron Center/South Christian HS) -- A senior DeHaan will compete in the 3,000 meter steeplechase where he is seeded eighth (9:08.26). DeHaan will be competing in the steeplechase at the national meet for the second straight year. Last year, DeHaan finished 13th in the steeplechase after running seven of a possible eight laps with only one shoe on after being mistakenly spiked in the opening lap. Earlier this spring, DeHaan was the MIAA champion in the steeplechase for the second straight year.

ERIK VANKAMPEN -- (Elmhurst, IL/Timothy Christian HS) -- A senior, Van Kampen will be making his first-ever appearance at the NCAA III Oudtoor Track and Field Championships. VanKampen will compete in the 10,000 meters where he is seeded 10th (30:26.96). Earlier this month, Van Kampen was the MIAA champion in the 10,000 meters.

AARON GOODMAN -- (Milawukee, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran HS) -- A junior, Goodman will be making his first trip to the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Goodman will compete in the 3,000 meter steeplechase where he is seeded 11th (9:11.66).

ERIC MICHEL -- (Naperville, IL/Naperville Central HS) -- A sophomore, Michel will be making his first trip to the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Michel will compete in the pole vault where he is seeded 15th (15-9 3/4). Earlier this month, Michel claimed his second straight MIAA title in the pole vault.

WOMEN'S TEAM

JULIE BRATT -- (Lynden, WA/Lynden Christian HS) -- A senior, Bratt will compete in the triple jump where she is seeded fifth (39-1 1/4). Bartt will be competing in her second NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. A year ago, she finished 12th in the triple jump. This past March, Bratt competed in the triple jump at the NCAA III Indoor Track and Field Championships and just missed an All-America berth, finishing ninth. Bratt also won the MIAA title in the triple jump this past month for the fourth straight year.

LAUREN BERGSTROM -- (Rochester, MN/Century HS) -- A senior, Bergstrom will compete in the 800 meters where she is seeded second (2:09.27). Bergstrom is making her fourth straight trip to the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. A year ago, she was was a double All-American, placing seventh in the 800 meters and eighth in the 1500 meters. She also ran on Calvin's All-America 4x400 meter relay teams in 2006 and 2007. This past March, Bergstrom took home All-America honors twice at the NCAA III Indoor Track and Field Championships, finishing fourth in the mile run and running a leg on Calvin's sixth place distance medley relay team. At the MIAA Championships this spring, Bergstrom was the league champion in both the 800 meters and 1500 meters.

RACHEL BOERNER -- (Bergenfield, NJ/Hillcrest Lutheran Academy) -- Boerner will compete in the 400 meter hurdles where she is seeded 11th (62.71) and will run on Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team which is seeded sixth (3:51.56). Boerner is making her second straight trip to the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships as she ran on Calvin's All-America 4x400 meter relay team which finished fifth. She also ran on Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team at the 2009 NCAA III Indroo Track and Field Championships which placed third.

HEATHER KONING -- (Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo Christian HS) -- Koning will compete in the 400 meters where she is seeded 12th (56.72) and as a member of Calvin's sixth-seeded 4x400 meter relay team. Koning is making her third straight trip to the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Koning has been a part of Calvin's All-America 4x400 meter relay teams in 2007 and 2008. This March, she also rank on Calvin's All-America distance medley and 4x400 meter relay teams at the NCAA III Indoor Track and Field Championships. At the 2009 MIAA Championships, Koning claimed the league title in the 400 meters for the second straight year.

SARAH REASONER -- (Cambridge, MN/Isanti HS) -- A sophomore, Reasoner will be making her first-ever trip to the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships this week. She will compete in the shot put where she is seeded third (46-0) and in the discus where she is seeded 14th (144-8). At the MIAA Championships this spring, Reasoner was the league champion in both the shot put and discus and was later named the MIAA's Most Outstanding Field Event Performer.

ELIZABETH SMIT -- (Kirkland, WA/Bellevue Christian HS) -- A junior, Smit will be making her second straight trip to the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Smit will compete in the 3,000 meter steeplechase where she is seeded eighth (10:43.05). A year ago, Smit finished 10th in the steeplechase at the national meet. Smit did claim All-America honors at the 2009 NCAA III Indoor Track and Field Championships, running a leg on Calvin's All-America distance medley relay team. In addition, Smit was the MIAA champion in the steeplechase this spring, winning the league title for the second straight year. She was also the MIAA champion in the 5,000 meters.

JESSICA KOSTER -- (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) -- A sophomore in eligibility, Koster will be making her second straight trip to the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She will compete in the 10,000 meters where she is seeded fourth (35:49.00). A year ago, Koster competed in the 10,000 meters at the national meet, finishing in 10th place. Earlier this month, Koster was the league champion in the 10,000 meters.

KRISTEN VAN SICKEL -- (Pittsburgh, PA/Trinity Christian HS) -- A senior, Van Sickel will be making her second straight trip to the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She will run a leg on Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team which is seeded sixth. She was a member of Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team that placed fifth at the 2008 NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She also was a member of Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team that placed third at the 2009 NCAA III Indoor Track and Field Championships this spring.

KATIE ROELOFS -- (Grand Rapids/Springfield (VA) HS) -- A junior, Roelofs will compete as a member of Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team which is seeded sixth. Roelofs will be making her first-ever trip to the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

GRETCHEN BRAYMER -- (Erie, PA/Collegiate Academy) -- A sophomore, Braymer will be making her first-ever trip to the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She will compete in the 3,000 meter steeplechase where she is seeded 15th (10:49.18). Braymer qualified for the national meet with a career-best performance this past Friday night at the Gregory Invitational hosted by North Central College.
For more on the championships, please visit the Marietta website at:
http://pioneers.marietta.edu/track/09championships/

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sun May 17 07:53:32 2009