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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.
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.
Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Teams Take Second at MIAA Jamboree
Saturday, April 14, 2012
ALBION - The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field teams face an uphill climb in a quest to continue MIAA Championship streaks. Both teams took second place behind rival Hope at the MIAA Jamboree Saturday at Albion College. In the men’s meet, Hope took first place with 898 points to Calvin’s 784. On the women’s side, Hope edged Calvin with 910.5 points with the Knights tallying 897.5 points. The MIAA Jamboree is worth one-half of the final MIAA crown. The remaining half consists of the results of the MIAA Field Day. Calvin will host the MIAA Field Day May 3 and 4. Heading into this season, the Calvin men’s track and field team has captured at least a share of 18 consecutive MIAA titles. On the women’s side, Calvin has captured at least a share of 22 consecutive MIAA titles. The women’s streak is the longest active championship streak in MIAA women’s athletics history.
Track & Field Teams In USTFCCCA Division III National/Regional Rankings
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
USTFCCCA Division III Top 25 Rankings
For the third straight week, the Calvin men’s track and field team holds a spot in the top 10 of the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association Division III national rankings. The Knights are ranked 10th in this week’s poll after having been ranked sixth the last two weeks. Calvin is in action this Saturday at the MIAA Jamboree hosted by Albion College. To visit a performance list for Saturday’s MIAA Jamboree, please visit the Albion website at: MIAA Jamboree Track and Field Performance List In addition, the Calvin men’s track and field team is ranked seventh in the latest set of Great Lakes Regional rankings while the Calvin women’s track and field team is ranked sixth in the women’s regional poll. The regional polls can be found online at: Regional Rankings
Track and Field Teams Compete at Adrian College All-American Invitational
Saturday, April 07, 2012
ADRIAN - The Calvin men’s and women’s track and field team competed at the Adrian All-American Invitational on Saturday.Highlights for the Calvin women included freshman Kate Ardinger winning the 1,500 meters (4:49.37), junior Alyssa Penning winning the 5,000 meters (18:09.51), junior Carissa Verkaik winning the high jump (5-5) and freshman Christina Geating winning the pole vault (10-0). Highlights for the Calvin men included senior Justin Kremers winning the javelin throw (172-7) and junior Job Christiansen winning the 5,000 meters (15:12.55). Both Calvin teams will now prepare to compete at the MIAA Jamboree next Saturday at Albion College. The MIAA Jamboree will be worth one-half of the final MIAA standings.
Calvin Distance Runners Come Up With Big Performances at Miami invitational
Friday, April 06, 2012
OXFORD, OH - A group of Calvin distance runners had big performance at the Miami University Invitational Friday night in the 5,000 meters.In the women’s 5,000 meters, senior Jodi Hoekstra (Homer Glen, IL/Christian HS) took first place with a time of 17:18.65 while sophomore Nicole Michermhuizen (Holland/Holland Christian HS) took fourth with a career-best time of 17:40.12. The time by Hoekstra is the fourth-fastest in NCAA III outdoor women’s track and field this spring while the time by Michmerhuizen is the ninth-fastest. On the men’s side, senior Dan Kerr (Petoskey/Petoskey HS) took second in the (men’s) 5,000 meters with a career-best time of 14:35.22 while junior Matt VanderRoest (Ann Arbor/Ann Arbor Huron HS) was third (14:46.90).The time by Kerr is the fastest in NCAA III men’s outdoor track and field this spring while the time by VanderRoest is the third-fastest. A small group of Calvin runners will continue to compete at the Miami Invitational on Saturday while the bulk of Calvin’s track and field athletes will compete at the All-American Invitational hosted by Adrian College.
