Calvin Men's Track and Field Has Big Day of Performances in Dual Meet at Hope

Provided by Calvin

HOLLAND, Mich. - The Calvin men's track and field team scored 96 points in a dual meet competition with Hope Friday afternoon.

Calvin scored points in several events.

In the 1500 meter run, junior Mark DeJong (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) took home a win in a time of 4:04.57 while senior Nathan Van Haitsma (Olympia, Wash./Olympia HS) was third (4:07.03).

Calvin took the top two spots in the in the 100 meter hurdles as junior Chase Rohrer (Ludington, Mich./Ludington HS) took first (16.28) while junior Jeremiah Stout (Escondido, Ca./Escondido Calvin Christian HS) was second (16.89). Rohrher also won the 400 meter hurdles in a time of 59.90 while sophomore Sam Veenstra (North Haledon, NJ/Eastern Christian HS) was second (59.93). Veenstra also placed third in the 400 meters (54.09) while senior Aaron Tucker (Albuquerque, NM/Hope Christian HS) was third in the 100 meters dash (12.03).

Junior Ethan Valentine (Mason, Oh./William Mason HS) won the 800 meters in a time of 1:58.92 while senior Jonathan Schaap (Mahomet, Il./Mahomet-Seymour HS) was third in 1:59.39.

In the 3,000 meters, Calvin took the top three spots as senior Matt Plantinga (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) was first (9:04.60), freshman Addison Smith (Seoul, South Korea/Seoul Foreign School) was second 9:09.99 and senior Andrew Rylaarsdam (Grandville, Mich./Grandville Calvin Christian HS) third (9:13.27).

Calvin's 4x400 meter relay of Valentine, junior Hendrik Vermeulen (Bright's Grove, Ont./St. Patrick's Secondary School), sophomore Luke Peterson (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) and sophomore James Jeninga (Brookfield, Wisc./Milwaukee Lutheran HS) won with a time of 3:28.23.

Calvin also competed well in the field events. The Knights swept the top three spots in the discus throw with sophomore Brendan VanHouten (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) winning with a toss of 131-7, freshman Jordan Jorritsma (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) taking second (121-0) and senior Erick Holder (Marian, Ind./Eastbrook HS) taking third (119-5).

VanHouten also won the shot put with a throw of 45-5 1/4 while freshman Jayvin Wolfe (Middleton, Mich./Fulton HS) was second (41-8). VanHouten then won the hammer throw with a toss of 145-3 with Jorritsma taking second (120-7). Jorritsma also won the javelin (139-6) with Holder second (135-2).

Freshman Nathan Van Wyhe (Frankfort, Il./Lincoln-Way East HS) won the high jump (6-0) while junior Jacob Stout (Escondido, Ca./Escondido Calvin Christian HS) led a 1-2-3 Calvin finish in the pole vault, winning with a vault of 12-11 1/2. Freshman Jonathan Walt (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) was second (12-6) and junior Devin Schweigert (Whitehall, Mich./Whitehall HS) third (12-6). Sophomore Lee Barents (Redlands, Ca./Arrowhead Christian HS) also won the long jump (21-0 3/4).

Calvin will now prepare to compete at the Ferris State Bulldog Invitational on April 8.