Men’s Track and Field Defeated by Hope College at MIAA Jamboree
Saturday, April 16, 2011
ADRIAN, MI - Calvin will face an uphill battle to maintain its 17-year MIAA championship streak. On Saturday, the Knights were defeated by rival Hope College by a 45-point margin at the MIAA Jamboree hosted by Adrian College with Hope taking first with 887.5 points and Calvin second at 842.5 points.
Saturday’s outcome marked the first time Calvin had not won an MIAA Jamboree - a format that came into place in 2008. The MIAA Jamboree - held in mid-April each year, is worth 50 percent of the final MIAA standings with the MIAA Field Day worth the remaining 50 percent. Calvin could still gain at least a share of the final MIAA title, but would need to finish first at the MIAA Field Day in order to do so. This year’s MIAA Field Day is scheduled for May 5 and 6 at Olivet College. The MIAA Jamboree uses a true team scoring format with every place counting in the final point total. Hope’s last win over Calvin in track and field came in an MIAA dual meet in 2007.
Calvin took first place in seven events led by its distance crew and its jumpers but Hope’s strength in the sprints and hurdles proved crucial in the final outcome.
Event winners for the Calvin men included:
*Senior Dan Kerr in the men’s 10,000 meters (31:55.55).
*Senior Alex Wrobel in the 1,500 meters (3:59.93).
*Junior Carson Sterchi in the 800 meters (1:57.78).
*Junior Nick Kramer in the 5,000 meters (15:14.89).
*Freshman Ryan Huffman in the long jump (22-1).
*Freshman Kyle Jasperse in the triple jump (45-1 3/4).
Calvin will return to action next Saturday when it competes at the Aquinas Open at Houseman Field.
