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Calvin Track & Field Athletes Compete at Last-Chance Meets
Saturday, May 12, 2012
The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams continued to push for qualifying spots for the upcoming NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships as a group of Calvin athletes competes at last-chance meet hosted by Grand Valley State while another group competed at a last-chance meet hosted by North Central College. At a last chance meet hosted by Grand Valley State Friday night, senior Nick Kramer (Dyer, IN/Illiana Christian HS) had a huge performance in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, winning the race with a season-best time of 9:00.05. The time by Kramer will put him inside the top 10 on the national qualifying list and should assure him of a spot in the event if he chooses to compete in that race at the national meet. Kramer ran with the lead pack through the first 5 and-a-half laps but then broke loose over the final two laps to win the race with plenty of breathing room.
Calvin Lands Eight on All-MIAA Men’s Track and Field Team
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Eight members of the Calvin men’s track and field team have been named to the All-MIAA team. Named to the All-MIAA team from Calvin are seniors Nick Kramer, Justin Kremers and Dan Kerr, juniors Matt VanderRoest and Aaron Meckes and sophomores Evert Geerlings, Matt Christians and Sam Kerk. Nick Kramer is being so honored for the third straight year while Kerr is receiving All-MIAA accolades in track and field for the second straight year. The remaining six Calvin athletes are being so honored for the first time.
Women’s Track & Field Team Extends MIAA Title Streak - Calvin Men’s Streak Comes to An End
Friday, May 04, 2012
Friday’s second day of action at the MIAA Field Day provided mixed results for the Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams. On the women’s side, Calvin took first place with 273 points, finishing nearly 120 points ahead of runner-up Hope. The Calvin women’s track and field teams shares the final MIAA title with Hope as the Flying Dutch took the MIAA Jamboree back in mid-April which makes up the other half of the final league title. Calvin has now claimed at least a share of 23 MIAA titles dating back to 1990. The streak is the longest active championship streak in MIAA women’s athletics history. On the men’s side, Calvin’s streak of claiming at least a share of 18 straight MIAA titles came to end on Friday however as Calvin finished second behind Hope as the Knights tallied 170 points, 36 points behind the Flying Dutchmen. Hope claims the outright MIAA title - its first since 1986 - as it also took first place at the MIAA Jamboree in April. It also marks the first time that a team other than Calvin has now won the MIAA Field Day since 1986.
Calvin Track and Field Teams Build First Place Totals Through Day One of MIAA Field Day
Thursday, May 03, 2012
After one day of competition at the MIAA Field Day, both Calvin track and field teams are in first place. On the men’s side, Calvin has a first day total of 70 points with Hope second with 39 points. On the women’s side, Calvin has 57 points, 10 points ahead of second place Alma. In the men’s meet, Calvin took first place in four of the five events held Thursday as sophomore Evert Geerlings captured the pole vault (13-10 1/4), junior Aaron Meckes won the shot put (16.66 meters), senior Justin Kremers won the javelin (56.47 meters) and senior Dan Kerr won the 10,000 meters (32:40.12). Kerr led a 1-2-3-4 Calvin finish as junior Job Christiansen was second, junior David VandeBunte third and freshman Jacob Kuyvenhoven fourth. In the women’s meet, Calvin had two individual winners as sophomore Nicole Michmerhuizen won the 10,000 meters (37:52.37) while junior Carissa Verkaik repeated as league champion in the high jump, winning with a jump of 1.62 meters. Action continues on Friday with field events set to begin at 10 a.m. and running finals slated to start at 1 p.m.
Nick Kramer and Jodi Hoekstra Named MIAA Runners of the Week in Men’s/Women’s Track & Field
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has announced its Athletes of the Week in track and field for the week ending April 29. Calvin distance runners Nick Kramer (men) and Jodi Hoekstra (women) have been named the MIAA Track Athletes of the Week, 
Kramer, a senior from Dyer, Ind. (Illiana Christian HS), set a Calvin school record in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:12.30, finishing second at the Gina Relays at Hillsdale. Kramer’s time is tops in the MIAA this season and fourth among NCAA Division III runners. Hoekstra, a senior from Homer Glen, Ill. (Chicago Christian HS), won the 5,000 meters at Hillsdale’s Gina Relays with a school-record time of 16:40.25. Hoekstra’s time is first among MIAA runners this season and fourth nationally. Calvin is currently preparing to host the MIAA Track and Field Championships May 3 and 4.
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Teams Compete at the Lyle Bennett Invite
Saturday, April 28, 2012
MT. PLEASANT - The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams competed at the Lyle Bennett Invitational hosted by Central Michigan University on Saturday.Sophomore Julie Busscher (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) had a strong day in the sprints for the Calvin women, posting a time of 12.86 in the 100 meters and a time of 26.18 in the 200 meters. Sophomore Hillary Banning (Whitinsville, MA/Whitinsville Christian HS) had a busy day, placing second in the triple jump (35-3) and eighth in the 400 meter hurdles (1:08.73). The field events were a strength for the Calvin men as junior Aaron Meckes (Bay City/Saginaw Valley Lutheran HS) was third in the shot put (52-4 3/4), senior Justin Kremers (West Chicago, IL/Wheaton Academy) was third in the javelin (161-1) and sophomore Matt Christians fifth in the high jump (6-2 3/4). The Calvin track and field teams will now prepare to host the MIAA Field Day May 3 and 4.
Track & Field Athletes Run Wild at Hillsdale Gina Relays - Records for Hoekstra & Kramer
Saturday, April 28, 2012
HILLSDALE - The Calvin men’s and women’s distance runners ran wild at the Hillsdale Gina Relays Thursday and Friday night. On Friday night, Calvin runners established school records in both the men’s and women’s 5,000 meter run. 
In the women’s Invite 5,000 meters Friday night, senior Jodi Hoekstra (Homer Glen, IL/Chicago Christian HS) took first place with a time of 16:40.25. Her time shatters the previous Calvin record of 16:54.20 set by Betsy Haverkamp in 1997. Hoekstra’s time is also the second-fastest time in Division III women’s track and field this spring. On the men’s side, senior Nick Kramer (Dyer, IN/Illiana Christian HS) shattered the Calvin men’s 5K record with a time of 14:12.39. Kramer’s time surpasses the previous Calvin mark of 14:22.56 set by Jed Christiansen in 2009. Kramer took second in Friday night’s Invite race behind Thomas Breitbach of Wisconsin-Eau Claire who took first in a time of 14:09.60. Kramer’s time is the fourth-best in Division III men’s track and field this spring.
Aaron Meckes Once Again Named MIAA Field Athlete of Week in Track & Field
Monday, April 23, 2012
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has announced its Athletes of the Week in track and field for meets through April 21. Trine’s Tyler Bourdo (men) and Adrian’s Kelsea Sellers (women) have been named the MIAA’s Track Athletes of the Week while Calvin’s Aaron Meckes (men) and Adrian’s Megan Meier (women) have been selected as Field Athletes of the Week. Meckes, a junior from Bay City (Saginaw Valley Lutheran HS), placed fourth in the shot put at the Al Owens Classic at Grand Valley State with a toss of 52 feet, 4-1/2 inches. He is currently ranked first in the MIAA in the shot put. Meckes is being honored as Athlete of the Week for the second week in a row and third time this season.
Track and Field Teams Compete at Al Owens Classic
Saturday, April 21, 2012
ALLENDALE – The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams competed at the Al Owens Classic Friday and Saturday. Highlights for the Calvin women included sophomore Julie Busscher (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) clocking a season-best time of 12.80 in the 100 meter dash, senior Kaitlin Diemer (Caledonia/South Christian HS) recording a season-best time of 2:17.35 in the 800 meter dash while sophomore Olivia Butler (Grant/Grant HS) also had a season-best time of 2.18.78.In the men’s competition, sophomore Matt Christians (Grand Rapids/South Christian HS) was second second in the high jump (6-4 ¾) and junior Aaron Meckes (Bay City/Saginaw Valley Lutheran HS) was fourth in the shot put (52-4 ½). His throw was a season (outdoor) best and places him 17th on the current NCAA III performance list. Both Calvin teams will now prepare for a busy slate of action next weekend as a group of athletes will compete at the Lyle Bennett Invitational on April 27 while another group will compete at the Hillsdale Gina Relays April 26-28.
Aaron Meckes Named MIAA Field Athlete of the Week in Men’s Track & Field
Monday, April 16, 2012
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named its Athletes of the Week in track and field for the week ending April 15. For the second time this year, Calvin junior Aaron Meckes has been named the MIAA Men’s Field Athlete of the Week. Meckes, a junior from Bay City (Saginaw Valley Lutheran HS), won the shot put and the discus at the MIAA Jamboree. Meckes had a toss of 51 feet, 7 inches in the shot put and a throw of 159 feet, 8 inches in the discus, second-best in NCAA Division III this season. Meckes is being honored as Field Athlete of the Week for the second time this season.
