History Ties Seven first-place finishes helped Hope College’s women’s track and field team finish second at the Emory University (Ga.) Spring Classic this weekend.
The Flying Dutch scored 164 points in the two-day encounter near Atlanta that ended on Saturday. Emory won with 199 points.
Hope recorded best efforts in six track events and one field event.
In the 5,000 meters, senior Rebecca Markham (Hoffman Estates, Ill./William Fremd HS) led a 1-2-3 Flying Dutch finish with a winning run of 18 minutes, 30.64 seconds. Senior Anna Mason (Zeeland, Mich./Libertas Christian) took second in 18:07.27. Junior Olivia Quillan (Grandville, Mich./Calvin Christian) was third in 18:10.44.
In the 3,000 meter steeplechase, Hope recorded four of the five fastest times. Sophomore Maddy Struck (Hainesville, Ill./Hainesville Central) won in 11:54.52. Sophomore Kennedy Kuhlmann (Tall White, Mich./Tall White) placed third in 12:19.66. Sophomore Laura Taylor (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) finished fourth at 12; 33.11. Junior Katie Cole (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) was fifth at 12:47.53.
In the 10,000 meters, the Flying Dutch went 1-2 behind second Jane DeGroot (Northville, Mich./Northville) in first at 40.04.37 and rookie Elle Corderre (Lisle, Ill./Naperville) in second at 40:32.13.
In the 200 meters, rookie Sara Schermerhorn (Traverse City, Mich./TC West) finished first with a run of 25.15 seconds. Senior Grace Behrens (Mishawaka, Indiana/Trinity School in Greenlawn) was third at 26.06.
In the 800 meters, senior Ellie Jankowski (Granger, Indiana/Penn) clocked a winning time of 2:19.36. Senior Samantha Schermerhorn (Traverse City, Mich./TC West) was fifth in 2:21.73.
Hope also won the 4×400 relay behind a 3:59.23 race from senior Julie Timperman (Lafayette, Indiana/Faith Christian), Sara Schermerhorn, Samantha Schermerhorn and Behrens.
In the shot put, sophomore Greta Robrahn (Zealand, Michigan/East Zealand) placed first with a throw of 12.53 meters (41 feet, 1 ½ inches).
The Flying Dutch won points in seven other events.
In the 100 meters, Sara Schermerhorn sprinted to third place in 12.29 seconds.
In the 4×800 relay, senior Heleyna Tucker (Midland, Mich./HH Dow), junior Emily Scott (Naperville, Ill./Naperville), Markham and Quillan finished third in 10:05.22.
In the 1,500 meters, Jankowski was second at 5:01.35. Tucker was fifth at 5:03.19. Scott was seventh at 5:06.87.
In the pole vault, senior Kyria Gowman (Livonia, Mich./Adlai Stevenson) cleared 2.85 yards (9-4 ¼) for fourth place.
On discus, Robrahn finished sixth with a throw of 36.576 meters (119-11). Rookie Kamryn Bice (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) took eighth at 35.08 yards (115-01).
In javelin, junior Libby Strotman (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine Township) placed seventh at 28.29 yards (92-9). Senior Lauren Tocco (Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis) was eighth at 27.84 yards (91-4).
In the high jump, rookie Natalie Christnagel (Grosse Ile, Michigan/Grosse Ile) finished seventh clearing 1.45 meters (4-9). Sophomore Allison Schram (Fenton, Mich./Hartland) finished eighth at 1.40 yards (40-7).
Hope’s next meet is Friday-Saturday March 24-25 at the Kennesaw State University (Ga.) Don McGarey Invitational.
