Knightfile »
Recent stories
Calvin Track and Field Teams Wrap Up MIAA Titles at 119th MIAA Field Day
Friday, May 07, 2010
ALMA—The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams overcame raw, wet and windy weather conditions to extend their championship streaks Friday afternoon at the 119th MIAA Field Day. The two-day event was hosted by Alma College. In the women’s competition, Calvin finished with a first place total of 282.5 points, 76 points ahead of Hope to wrap up their 21st consecutive MIAA title. The Calvin women’s championship streak is the longest active streak in MIAA women’s athletics history. Calvin has also now won a league-leading 25 MIAA titles in women’s track and field.
In the men’s competition, Calvin finished with a first place total of 254 points, 39 points ahead of Hope. The finish allowed the Knights to wrap up their 16th consecutive league title including their league-leading 35th overall. Both titles were the first under first-year Calvin head men’s and women’s track and field coach Bret Otte.
The Calvin women’s team claimed seven individual titles and one relay crown on Friday. On the men’s side, Calvin had five event champions on Saturday and one relay title.
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Teams Post Commanding Leads After Day One of MIAA Field Day
Thursday, May 06, 2010
ALMA—The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams have taken commanding leads through day one of the MIAA Track and Field Championships.
In the men’s competition, Calvin holds a 41-point lead over Hope as the Knights have a first place total of 73 points. Calvin had two individual champions on Friday with junior Joel Klingenberg (Hamilton, ON) winning the javelin for the second year in a row, recording a throw of 186-10. Senior Zack VanderLaan (Lansing, Mich.) also captured the long jump title, uncorking a winning jump of 22-8 1/2 on his last and final jump of the afternoon. 
In the women’s competition, Calvin holds a 40-point lead over Hope with the Knights building a first place total of 95.5 points. The Calvin women’s team crowned three individual champions on Friday led by senior Jessica Koster (Grand Rapids Christian HS) who repeated as league champion in the 10,000 meters with a time of 38.02.93. Calvin senior Joy Leach (Charlottsville, VA) also repeated as league champion in the pole vault, winning with a vault of 12-1 1/2. Junior Leigha Oberle (Grand Rapids Christian HS) also won the discus with a throw of 136-3.
Bret Otte Day One Audio Interview
Calvin Track & Field Teams Compete at Benedictine Twilight Invitational
Saturday, May 01, 2010
LISLE, IL—The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams competed on Friday evening at the Benedictine Twilight Invitational. Full results were not available Friday night but early reports had several Calvin athletes producing strong results despite strong winds and subsequent thunderstorms that halted the meet two events shy of completion.
A highlight for the Calvin women’s team came from junior Rebekah VanDyk (Bellflower, CA/Valley Christian HS) who recorded an NCAA III provisional qualifying jump of 5-6 in the high jump. The jump was a collegiate-best for VanDyk and gives her a solid shot at qualifying for the upcoming NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. After clearing the bar at 5-6, VanDyk just missed clearing at 5-7.
More NCAA III Qualifying Performances for Calvin Track & Field Athletes
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Calvin’s track and field athletes were split up on Saturday with half competing at the Hillsdale Gina Relays with the other half competing at the Aquinas College Open at Houseman Field.
At the Hillsdale Gina Relays, junior Rachel Boerner (Bergenfield, NJ) posted an NCAA III automatic qualifying time of 55.29 in winning the 400 meters. She also anchored Calvin’s 4x400 meter relay team that posted an NCAA III provisional qualifying time of 3:54.55 that was good for second place. The relay included senior Katie Roelofs (Grand Rapids, Mich.), sophomore Kaitlin Diemer (South Christian HS) and sophomore Jordan Gabrielse (Unity Christian HS). In the women’s pole vault, senior Joy Leach (Charlottsville, VA) achieved a career-best in placing second with an NCAA III provisional qualifying vault of 12-1 1/2 that placed her second.
Elizabeth Smit Shatters School Record in 3,000 Meter Steeplechase at Hillsdale Gina Relays
Saturday, April 24, 2010
HILLSDALE—The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams came up with several sterling performances on Friday night at the Hillsdale Gina Relays. Calvin was led by its distance contingent on Friday night, particularly from its women’s team.
Senior Elizabeth Smit (Kirkland, WA) qualified automatically with a school record time of 10:29.55 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, breaking her own school record by nearly 15 seconds. In the women’s 10,000 meters, senior Jessica Koster (Grand Rapids Christian HS) was one of four Calvin runners to post NCAA III provisional qualifying times as she placed third in a time of 35:48.14. Koster’s time was just .14 off an automatic qualifying time and will almost certainly cement her ticket to the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in May.
Calvin Track and Field Teams Take First Place at MIAA Jamboree at Olivet
Saturday, April 17, 2010
OLIVET—Faced with another stern challenge from rival Hope College, the Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams dug down deep to claim first place victories at the MIAA Jamboree on Saturday at Olivet College. The Calvin men’s track and field team took first place with 952.5 points, 7.5 points ahead of Hope. On the women’s side, Calvin recorded a first place score of 974.5 points, 35 points ahead of Hope. Saturday’s MIAA Jamboree is worth 50 percent of the final MIAA title. The upcoming MIAA Field Day scheduled for May 6 and 7 at Alma College will make up the remaining 50 percent.
Calvin Track & Field Teams Compete at Ferris State Bulldog Invitational
Sunday, April 11, 2010
BIG RAPIDS - the Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams competed at the Ferris State Bulldog Invitational on Saturday.
On the women’s side, junior Sarah Reasoner (Cambridge, MN) won the discus with a season best and NCAA III provisional qualifying throw of 146-7. She also took second in the shot put with an NCAA III provisional qualifying throw of 44-6 1/4. Calvin junior Leigha Oberle (Grand Rapids Christian HS was second in the discus with a throw of 134-6.
Calvin Track and Field Teams Battle the Elements At Grand Rapids Open
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Despite torrential rain and high winds, several members of the Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams posted strong performances at the Grand Rapids Open hosted by Aquinas College at Houseman field Saturday afternoon.
Track & Field Teams Open Outdoor Campaigns in Strong Fashion At Rhodes Open
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Rhodes Open Invitational Results
MEMPHIS, TN – The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams both had strong starts to their outdoor seasons at the Rhodes College Open Invitational on Saturday. Junior Rachel Boerner led the way with an NCAA III automatic qualifying time of of 1:01.64 in the 400 meter hurdles. The time came just one week after Boerner captured the 400 meter national title at the NCAA III Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Rachel Boerner Captures National Title in 400 Meters at NCAA III Indoor Track & Field Championships
Saturday, March 13, 2010
NCAA III Indoor Track & Field Championships Site
The Calvin women’s track and field team placed 11th at the NCAA III Indoor Track and Field Championships with 18 points. The Knights accomplished the 11th place berth behind two individuals as junior Rachel Boerner captured the national title in the 400 meters with a time of 55.95 while junior Sarah Reasoner was second in the shot put with a throw of 46-4. Senior Jed Christiansen also competed in the men’s 5,000 meters, placing 10th with a time of 15:03.
(photos courtesy of DePauw University)
