FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The Calvin track and field teams posted another
huge weekend of performances as a number of athletes posted NCAA III
automatic or provisional qualifying performances at the Paddock
Invitational hosted by the University of Michigan. Heading the
weekend for the Knights was senior Steve Michmerhuizen of Holland
Christian High School who finished second in the discus Friday night
with a school-record and NCAA III automatic qualifying performance of
175-8, surpassing his own school-record by more than three feet.
Michmerhuizen's throw of 175-8 is the second best discus performance
in Division III men's track and field this spring. Michmerhuizen
also placed fourth in the shot put with a throw of 51-10 Saturday
afternoon and has already qualified automatically for nationals in
the event. Calvin senior Nate Kuipers also took fifth in the discus
(164-0) while Bryan Mayhew was seventh (156-2).
Sophomores Derek Kleinheksel of Hamilton High School and Mark DeWeerd
of Unity Christian High School also came up with career-best
performances in the field events over the weekend as Kleinheksel took
fifth in the high jump with a strong NCAA III provisional qualifying
leap of 6-9, surpassing his previous best by nearly three inches.
DeWeerd took eighth in the pole vault with a strong NCAA III
provisional qualifying mark of 15-6, surpassing his previous best by
six inches. In the 1,500 meters Friday evening, Calvin senior Lee
Doherty (Tucson, AZ) took seventh with an NCAA III automatic
qualifying time of 3:50.63 while sophomore teammate Dan Hoekstra
(Kalamazoo Christian) recorded a strong NCAA III provisional
qualifying time of 14:45.64 to finish second in the 5,000 meters
Friday. In addition, junior Curt Mulder (Grand Rapids Christian)
placed seventh in the 400 meter hurdles with a career-best and NCAA
III provisional qualifying time of 53.46.
On the women's side, Calvin was led by sophomore Andrea Rip (Bothell,
WA) who took fourth in the javelin with an NCAA III provisional
qualifying mark of 124-10 while senior Amy Mizzone (Wayne, NJ) added a
fourth place finish in the 5,000 meters (18:51.53).
The NCAA III Track and Field Championships will be held next Thursday,
Friday and Saturday at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. The
final field for the NCAA III Track and Field Championships will be
announced Monday evening.
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