Calvin/Hope Cross Country Squads Team Up For Another Edition of Rival Relay
Sunday, July 17, 2011
On the morning of July 16, another edition of the Rival Relay between the Calvin and Hope men’s and women’s cross country teams took place. The event, which dates back to 1919, involves a seven-leg relay that begins in Grand Rapids and concludes in Holland. The event is entirely organized by the student-athletes without any aid from the coaching staffs of either school. Saturday’s race began at John Ball Park in Grand Rapids and ended at Tunnel Park in Holland. The first six legs were five miles each, with the anchor leg finishing the final 5.85 miles. In between, runners traversed through the streets of Grandville, past the cornfields of Jamestown, through downtown Zeeland, past the blueberry patches of north Holland and then concluding at Tunnel Park. 
Both Calvin teams were victorious. Members of the Calvin men’s relay team were Alex VanHaitsma, Steven Haagsma, Job Christiansen, Alex Wrobel, Greg Whittle, Jacob Kuyvenhoven and David VandeBunte Ben Lewis also participated, riding his bike throughout the entire race. Members of the Calvin women’s relay were Alyssa Penning, Kaitlin Diemer, Jodi Hoekstra, Sarah Fennema, Lydia Peterson, Samantha Westveer and Nicole Michermhuizen. At the conclusion of the race, both teams from Calvin and Hope gathered for a post-race cookout at Tunnel Park.
Calvin Finishes Fifth in Final Learfield Sports Director’s Cup Standings
Friday, June 17, 2011
For the 16th consecutive year, Calvin has posted a top 25 finish in the final NCAA III Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings, finishing fifth in the nation in Division III in 2010-11 with a total of 762.25 points. Calvin’s point total and its (placement) finish is its highest-ever in the 16 years of the competition. Calvin is one one of only six schools in the country to finish in the top 25 every year that the competition has been held at the NCAA III level. Joining Calvin in that elite group are Williams, Mass., Amherst, Mass., Middlebury, Vt., the State University of New York at Cortland and Emory, Ga. Williams College, Mass., defended its title as the best athletics program in the nation in Division III by winning its 15th U.S. Sports Academy Directors’ Cup with 1,147 points.
Team Spirit Runs Wild Within Calvin Cross Country/Track & Field Programs
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
By Andrew Knot
By the traditional sense of the term, Track and Field and Cross Country are not team sports. Outside of relays, the sports are designed for the individual. Talk to members of Calvin’s Cross Country or Track and Field teams, and you’ll likely think otherwise. In building a tradition-steeped program, the Knights’ have relied heavily on team spirit and encouragement.
