Calvin track and field teams win MIAA Championships

May 5th, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Jeff Febus


GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Calvin men's and women's track and field teams closed out a sizzling two days of competition as both teams captured first place at the MIAA Championships Friday afternoon at Calvin Field. In the men's competition, Calvin took first place with 216 points, finishing 98 points ahead of second place Albion to capture its seventh consecutive MIAA title including its 13th in the last 14 years. On the women's side, Calvin established a new MIAA meet record with a first place total of 353 points, becoming the first school in MIAA history to record more than 300 points at the league championships. The previous MIAA record had been 282 points set by the 1996 Calvin women's track and field team. The first place finish by the Calvin women allowed the Knights to clinch their 11th consecutive MIAA crown.

In the women's competion, Calvin took first place in 16 of a possible 19 events, setting four MIAA records in the process. Junior Megan Pierce (Fort Wayne, IN) led the way for the Knights as she set new meet records in the 200 meters and 400 meters with respective first place times of 25.36 and 54.93. Her time in the 200 was an NCAA III provisional qualifying time while her 400 meter time was an NCAA III automatic qualifying performance. Pierce also anchored Calvin's first place 400 meter (48.69) and 1,600 meter relay teams (3:53.36). Calvin's time in the 1,600 meter relay was also a new MIAA record. Pierce was then named the MIAA's MVP for the second straight year.

Also setting a meet record from Calvin was sophomore Lindsay Mulder (Calvin Christian) as she took first place in the long jump with a meet record mark of 18-11 �. Mulder also ran legs on both Calvin relay teams and took first in the 100 meters (12.66) and second in the 200 meters (25.63). Calvin sophomore Rachel Veltkamp (Grand Rapids Christian) was another double-winner and MIAA record-breaker over the weekend as she won the triple jump (35-5) and the pole vault with an MIAA record vault of 10-9. Hope junior Emily Sowers broke the sixth MIAA record as she won the discus with a throw of 151-9.

In addition, senior Sarah Gritter (Wauwatosa, WI) was a double-winner for the Knights, winning the 1,500 meters (4:46.74) and 3,000 meters (10:38.87).. Other individual winners for the Calvin women included senior Bethany Zylstra (Whitinsville, MA) in the high jump (5-2); sophomore Erinn Boot (Kalamazoo Christian) in the 5,000 meters (18:48.37); junior Rashel Bayes (Sparta) in the 10,000 metes (38:47.10); sophomore Liz Blevins (Marion) in the javelin (125-5); freshman Anne VanderLaan (Grand Rapids Christian) in the 100 hurdles (15.18) and junior Sara Veltkamp in the 800 meters (2:16.79).

On the men's side, Calvin junior Phil Sikkenga of Wheaton, Ilinois, powered the Knights to victory as he was named the MIAA's MVP for the second straight year. Sikkenga took first place in three individual events and anchored both Calvin relay teams to first place triumphs while setting one MIAA record in the process. Sikkenga's MIAA record came in the 110 high hurdles as he clocked in with an NCAA III automatic qualifying time of 14.52. Sikkenga also took first place in the 100 meters (10.77) and 200 meters (21.96) while anchoring Calvin's 400 meter (42.42) and 1,600 meter (3:16.54) relay teams.

Other individual winners for the Calvin men included junior Derek Kleinheksel (Hamilton) in the high jump (6-9/NCAA III provisional mark); junior Mark DeWeerd (Unity Christian) in the pole vault (15-0); senior Scott Westhouse (South Christian) in the steeplechase (9:41.30); sophomore Joel Klooster (Chatham, ON) in the 10,000 meters (31.57.65); senior Bryan Mayhew (Gull Lake) in the discus (160-5); sophomore Keith VanGoor (Midland Park, NJ) in the 400 meters (48.33) and sophomore Justin Momany-Pfruender (Midland) in the 5,000 meters (15:25.15). The time by Westhouse in the steeplechase was a new MIAA record while Kleinheksel's mark in the high jump and VanGoor's time in the 400 meters were strong NCAA III provisional qualifying marks.

CALVIN MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD ALL-MIAA HONOREES

Mark DeWeerd Phil Sikkenga Scott Westhouse Joel Klooster Derek Kleinheksel Bryan Mayhew Keith VanGoor Justin Momany-Pfruender Eric Hansen Paul Petersen

FINAL MIAA MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD STANDINGS

1. Calvin College 2. Albion 3. Hope 4. Alma 5. Adrian 6. Olivet

CALVIN WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD ALL-MIAA HONOREES

Bethany Zylstra Linsday Mulder Rachel Veltkamp Liz Blevins Anne VanderLaan Sara Veltkamp Megan Pierce Rashel Bayes Erinn Boot Sarah Gritter Lisa Timmer Andrea Rip Liz Kuipers Mindy Worst Anna VanDrie

FINAL MIAA WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD STANDINGS

1. Calvin College 2. Hope 3. Alma 4. Albion 5. Adrian 6. Olivet 7. St. Mary's

-end-