Calvin Crowns Three All-Americans

BEREA, OH - The Calvin College track and field teams crowned three All-Americans and shattered a pair of school-records on the first day of competition at the NCAA III Track and Field Championships at Baldwin-Wallace College. The Calvin men posted a pair of All-America performances in the field events as sophomore Mark DeWeerd of Unity Christian High School finished eighth in the pole vault at 15-3 while sophomore Derek Kleinheksel of Hamilton High School was seventh in the high jump at 6-6 . DeWeerd was one of two MIAA athletes to earn All-America accolades in the pole vault as Adrian freshman Ricky Abundiz finished tied for fourth place. In earning All-America honors in the pole vault, DeWeerd becomes the second pole vault All-American in Calvin track and field history, joining Rick Lubbers who was a three-time All-American between 1990-1992. Kleinheksel also becomes the second high jump All-American in Calvin men's track and field history, joining Dan Owen who was a three-time All-American between 1987-1989. DeWeerd and Kleinheksel both finished out their sophomore track and field campaigns with momentum as both athletes had qualified for the national meet last Saturday at the Paddock Invitational hosted by the University of Michigan. "I am very proud of Mark and Derek," said Calvin men's track and field coach Jong-Il Kim. "They have worked hard all year long and their efforts paid off tonight." On the women's side, Calvin sophomore Lindsay Mulder of Calvin Christian High School earned All-America honors as she took fourth in the long jump with a leap of 18-4 . After fouling on her first two attempts in the prelimaries, Mulder made her final leap count as she popped off a mark of 18-4 to move into fifth place. She then moved into fourth place in the finals by adding a half-inch to her best performance. "Lindsay is as tough of a competitor as they come," said Calvin women's track and field coach Gregg Afman. "I was not surprised to see her come up with a big jump under pressure because she is that type of athlete. She had to sit out the season last year with a knee injury and to see her finish as an All-American today was a tremendous thrill." Also highlighting the evening for both Calvin track and field teams were record-breaking performances by its 1,600 meter relay teams in Thursday's preliminaries. In the men's preliminaries, Calvin's 1,600 meter squad of freshman Keith Van Goor (Midland Park, NJ), sophomore Eric Hansen (Big Rapids), junior Curt Mulder (Grand Rapids Christian) and senior Jay Lumkes (Elkhorn, WI) advanced to the finals with a school-record time of 3:12.54 lopping more than two seconds off the previous school mark. The relay is seed third for Saturday's championship final. In the women's 1,600 meter prelims, senior Kristi Van Woerkom (Grand Rapids Christian), sophomore Sara Veltkamp (Grand Rapids Christian), Lindsay Mulder and sophomore Megan Pierce (Fort Waye, IN) posted the fastest-time of the evening, clocking in with a school-record time of 3:47.07 -- breaking the old mark of 3:48:91 set by Calvin's 1994 squad that captured the national championship in the event. Pierce powered the relay home in the final leg with a final split of 53.50 seconds. Also advancing to Saturday's championship finals from Calvin were senior Lee Doherty (Tucson, AZ) in the men's 1,500 and sophomore Sarah Gritter (Wauwatosa, WI) in the women's 1,500. -end-