Tyler Hendrickson was born and raised in Long Beach, and started covering sports in his hometown in 2010. After five years as a sportswriter, Tyler joined the athletic department at Long Beach State University in 2015. He spent more than four years in the athletic communications department, working primarily with the Dirtbags baseball program. Tyler also co-authored of The History of Long Beach Poly: Scholars & Champions.

http://the562.org

INDIANOLA — Central College’s Peyton Steffen (junior, Marion) won both the 1500 meters and 5000 meters Saturday at the American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, securing the league’s Women’s Track Events MVP.

Steffen also won the 3,000-meter steeplechase Friday night to contribute 30 points to the Central team score. The Dutch totaled 135 points to take third. Wartburg College was the winner with 245 points.

“It’s a tough conference and a tough meet,” coach Brandon Sturman said. “I’m super proud of what we accomplished, especially all of the PRs and people doubling up or even tripling up in events.”

Steffen ran the 1500 in 4 minutes, 30.41 seconds and the 5000 meters in 18:06.21.

“It’s always tough to do three events at the conference meet, especially in the heat,” Sturman said. “She didn’t have to run the 5K but she took one for the team and scored 10 team points. I’m really proud of what she did.”

Amber Vroman (senior, Seneca, Ill.) won the pole vault with a clearance of 11 feet, 5 inches. Teammates Leah Howard (junior, Auburn, N.Y.) and Kylie Meyer (freshman, Andalusia, Ill., Rockridge HS) finished second (11-1) and fourth (10-1.25), respectively.

“We had a good day in the pole vault,” Sturman said. “Amber’s been a great leader for us and it is nice to see her go out on top and get that championship one more time.”

Junior Emily McMartin (Pella) was an all-conference performer in three events. She broke a school record in the 400-meter dash (55.62) while finishing second. She also was third in the 200-meter dash (24.80) and anchored the 4×400-meter relay team to a runner-up finish as well in 3:51.02. She was joined on the 4×400 squad by Olivia Bohlen (junior, Belle Plaine, Ava Parkins (sophomore, Monmouth, Ill., Burlington Notre Dame [Iowa] HS) and Alivia Roerdink (sophomore, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS).

Bohlen was second in the 110-meter hurdles (14.62 seconds) and Roerdink was third in the 800 meters (2:15.07) to round out the all-conference honorees.

A small contingent of Dutch athletes will compete at the Augustana Twilight Qualifier next Wednesday and Thursday in Rock Island, Illinois.

 

Top-eight finishes – women

100 meters (finals) – 4. Mary Gustason, 12.41

200 meters (finals) –  3. Emily McMartin, 24.80; 6. Ava Parkins, 25.48

400 meters (finals) – 2. Emily McMartin, 55.62; 5. Ava Parkins, 57.27

800 meters (finals) – 3. Alivia Roerdink, 2:15.07

1500 meters – 1. Peyton Steffen, 4:30.41

5000 meters – 1. Peyton Steffen, 18:06.21

4×100 relay – 4. Mary Gustason, Ava Parkins, Danika Arnold, Emily McMartin, 47.39

4×400 relay – 2. Olivia Bohlen, Ava Parkins, Alivia Roerdink, Emily McMartin, 3:51.02

110-meter hurdles (finals) – 2. Olivia Bohlen, 14.62

Pole vault – 1. Amber Vroman, 11-5; 2. Leah Howard, 11-1; 4. Kylie Meyer, 10-1.25

 

SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

POOL PLAY

DIVISION 1

#6 Newport Harbor d. #7 Redondo Union, 18-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-12

SEMIFINALS

DIVISION 2

Mater Dei d. St. Francis, 25-17, 25-20, 25-17

Peninsula d. St. Margaret’s, 13-25, 25-23, 25-16, 27-25

DIVISION 3

Tesoro d. North Torrance, 25-17, 25-19, 25-16

Orange Lutheran d. Warren, 25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 25-14

DIVISION 4

Santa Barbara d. Corona Santiago, 25-21, 25-16, 30-28

Sage Hill d. Crean Lutheran, 3-0

DIVISION 5

Esperanza d. Newbury Park, 25-12, 25-17, 19-25, 21-25, 16-14

Kennedy d. Vista Murrieta, 25-19, 25-21, 23-25, 25-22

DIVISION 6

Quartz Hill d. Village Christian, 3-2

El Toro d. Laguna Blanca, 3-2

DIVISION 7

Brea Olinda d. San Jacinto, 3-1

Brentwood at San Gabriel Academy, Monday at 4 p.m.

DIVISION 8

Katella d. Lancaster Desert Christian, 25-23, 25-19, 22-25, 25-21

Wildwood d. Avalon, 3-2

DIVISION 9

California Academy of Math & Science d. San Jacinto Valley Academy, 3-2

Beverly Hills at Downey, Monday at 5 p.m.

Note: Finals in Division 1 Friday, May 16 at 7 p.m. at Cerritos College; Finals in Divisions 2-9 May 16 or 17 (sites and times TBA).

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Led by five first-place finishes and 10 all-conference performances, the St. Olaf College women’s track and field team finished fourth at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday and Saturday at Macalester Stadium.

St. Olaf’s five first-place performances were the program’s most since 1999-00, as the Oles took fourth in the 12-team standings with 118 points. St. Olaf finished 13.5 points behind third-place Bethel University and 22 points behind second-place Concordia-Moorhead. Gustavus Adolphus College won the team title with 170.5 points.

Over the course of the two-day meet, St. Olaf had 10 All-MIAC performances (places 1-3) and seven Honorable Mention All-MIAC performances (places 4-6), highlighted by senior Alison Bode sweeping the conference titles in the 5,000-meter run and 10,000-meter run. Bode is believed to be the first Ole to sweep the MIAC outdoor titles in those two events.

In addition to Bode’s two first-place finishes, senior Sophie Abernethy won the 1,500-meter run, junior Isabel Wyatt won the 800-meter run, and St. Olaf won the 4×800-meter relay, with three of the Oles’ five first-place performances coming on Friday.

FRIDAY RECAP

St. Olaf earned 26 of its 64 points on the opening day with a 1-3-4-5-8 finish in the 1,500-meter run to sit in second place, just three points behind Concordia-Moorhead.

In the first event of the meet on the track, Abernethy got the Oles started by leading the 1-3-4-5-8 showing in the 1,500-meter run by winning her first MIAC individual title in 4:38.09, which was over six seconds faster than the runner-up. The senior was St. Olaf’s first conference champion in the event since Megan (Daymont) Thomas ’03 in 2002-03.

Junior Ella Landis, junior Lauren Walda, senior Jules Fromm, and first year Abi Lindquist all joined Abernethy in scoring in the event, with Landis also earning all-conference honors in third (4:46.12). Walda and Fromm grabbed two of the three honorable-mention all-conference spots in fourth (4:47.47) and fifth (4:47.84), respectively, while Lindquist scored in eighth (4:50.03). Fromm’s fifth-place finish was the highest individual finish of her career, while Walda ran the event at the conference meet for the first time.

Bode capped the night by winning the 10,000-meter run, which was pushed back a couple of hours due to the 80-degree temperatures, in 35:35.82. The senior won the event by over three-and-a-half minutes to become the first Ole to win the event since Emma Lee ’13 in 2012-13 and claim the first MIAC individual title of her career. The time also ranks 16th nationally, positioning Bode to qualify for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. First year Arabella England earned All-MIAC honors with a third-place finish (39:39.82) to give the Oles two of the top-three finishers in the event.

St. Olaf’s 4×800-meter relay of sophomore Siri Erickson, Fromm, Landis, and Abernethy outpaced second-place Concordia-Moorhead by over eight seconds with a winning time of 9:17.96, which broke the facility record of 9:18.91 established by the College of Saint Benedict in 2015. The quartet’s performance gave the Oles their second consecutive title in the event and their time ranks fifth on St. Olaf’s all-time list.

Wyatt was one of three Oles to qualify for the finals in the 800-meter run with top-nine performances in the prelims. The junior posted the top qualifying time by over five-and-a-half seconds (2:10.25) to better her No. 2 standing on St. Olaf’s all-time list at the time. Sophomores Molly DiNardo (6th, 2:18.33) and Nora Mickelson (7th, 2:18.46) qualified sixth and seventh, respectively, with just over 0.1 seconds between them.

Junior Ashlyn Jore added an honorable-mention performance in the long jump by placing fourth with a mark of 5.36 meters (17′ 7″) on her sixth and final attempt. Senior Emma Johnson moved up to eighth on St. Olaf’s all-time list in the shot put with a seventh-place result (12.01m, 39′ 5″), while first year Erika Nesseth rose to ninth all-time in the pole vault after clearing 3.18 meters (10′ 5 ¼”) to take ninth.

SATURDAY RECAP

After winning the event indoors, Wyatt completed her double in the 800-meter run by breaking the school record of Megan (Daymont) Thomas ’03 by just over three-tenths of a second in 2:09.44. The MIAC title was the second of Wyatt’s career, while her time ranks 14th in the country this season. Wyatt’s win made her the first Ole to win the event since Audrey Weber in 2006. DiNardo (6th, 2:19.40) and Mickelson (8th, 2:21.85) also scored in the event for St. Olaf.

Bode finished off her two-title meet by winning the 5,000-meter run in 17:14.72, which was over eight seconds faster than the rest of the field. The senior became St. Olaf’s first conference champion in the event since Christina Vetter ’00 in 1997-98. Walda gave the Oles two all-conference performers in the event in third (17:33.13).

Sophomore Mara Larson claimed her third MIAC runner-up finish and fourth All-MIAC accolade in as many attempts in the high jump by clearing 1.57 meters (5′ 1 ¾”). Larson had fewer misses than two other competitors to clear 1.57 meters, missing once on 1.54 meters (5′ ½”) and once on 1.57 meters before going out on 1.60 meters (5′ 3″).

St. Olaf’s 4×400-meter relay of first year Izzi Jaeckle, senior Jules Fromm, junior Rachael Wilson, and senior Emma Storbakken landed the final all-conference accolade in third (3:59.14), while junior Grace Moeller added an honorable-mention, fourth-place showing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (11:20.68). The time was the fastest of Moeller’s career and bettered her No. 6 time on St. Olaf’s all-time list by less than one second.

After finishing 11th in the event as a first year, sophomore Otelia Lighthill moved all the way up to fifth in the discus throw (39.75m, 130′ 5″) to secure honorable-mention honors and break onto St. Olaf’s all-time list in ninth. St. Olaf’s 4×100-meter relay of first year Sophie Herweijer, Storbakken, senior Zoe Matre, and Jaeckle also posted a top-10 time in program history, slotting in in seventh after placing eighth (49.70).

 

INDIANOLA, Iowa– The No. 21 Wartburg women’s track and field team won their 25th Outdoor American Rivers Conference Championship with 245 points. Ava Vance won rookie of the year. Wartburg (HC: Marcus Newsom) won the coaching staff of the year. 
 
Team Standings:
1            Wartburg                        245
2            Loras                              161
3            Central                           135
4            Nebraska Wesleyan      120                    
5            Dubuque                         91
6            Simpson                         73
7            Luther                             17
8            Coe                                  9
9            Buena Vista                      6
 
 
 
Event Wins:
Triple Jump
1            Shaniah Johnson                       11.80m 38-08.75
 
Hammer Throw
1            Emma True                                  55.87m 183-03
 
800m
1            Haley Meyer                                2:11.97
 
400m Hurdles
1            Sophia Stahle                             1:01.88
 
400m
1            JoJo Tyynismaa                          55.48
 
100m Hurdles
1            Grace Braden                              14.51
 
4x400m
1            Wartburg                                       3:50.29 (S. Stahle, H. Meyer, R. Decker, J. Tyynismaa)
 
 
All-Conference Finishers:
200m
2            JoJo Tyynismaa                           24.67                      
 
4x100m
2            Wartburg                                      47.09 (O. Tollari, J. Tyynismaa, A. Schultes, A. Parker)
 
Javelin Throw
3            Brooke Shafer                             38.96m 127-10
 
5000m
3            Ava Vance                                    19:14.21                        
 
1500m
3            Ellie Meyer                                   4:34.85
 
400m Hurdles
3            Ryann Decker                             1:02.61            
 
100m Hurdles
3            Ryann Decker                             15:11                
 
 
Notes:

• This is the 26^th title in the 800m in program history
• This is the 14^th title in the 400m in program history
• This is the 14^th title in the 4x400m in program history
• This is the 10^th title in the triple jump in program history
• This is the eighth title in the 100m hurdles in program history
• This is the sixth title in the 400m hurdles in program history
• This is the third title in the hammer throw in program history
• This is Tynnismaa’s fifth career outdoor conference title
• This is Tyynismaa’s first career outdoor conference title in the 400m
• This is True’s second career outdoor conference title in the hammer throw
• This is S. Johnson’s first career outdoor conference title
• This is H. Meyer’s first career outdoor conference title
• This is Stahle’s first career outdoor conference title
• This is Braden’s first career outdoor conference title
• At press time, Stahle’s 400m hurdle time stands 10^th on the TFRRS list for this season
• At press time, Tyynismaa’s 400m time stands 20^th on the TFRRS list for this season
• At press time, H. Meyer’s 800m time stands 23^rd on the TFRRS list for this season
• At press time, S. Johnson’s triple jump stands 24^th on the TFRRS list for this season
• At press time, Decker’s 400m time stands 24^th on the TFRRS list for this season
• At press time, (O. Tollari, J. Tyynismaa, A. Schultes, A. Parker) 4x100m time stands 26^th on the TFRRS list for this season
• S. Johnson’s triple jump remains sixth on the program’s top 10 list, but she improves her mark
• Tyynismaa’s 400m time ranks sixth on the program’s top 10 list
• E. Meyer’s 1500m time ranks seventh on the program’s top 10 list
• Stahle’s 400m hurdle time ranks seventh on the program’s top 10 list
• Tyynismaa’s 400m time ranks seventh on the program’s top 10 list

 
 
Award Winners
Women’s Rookie of the Year – Ava Vance
Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year – Wartburg
 

Up Next

A select group will compete at the NCAA Qualifier on May 14 (Wed) – May 15 (Thu) in Rock Island, Illinois.

 

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Born into beach volleyball royalty, Hagen Smith might finally be ready to take the throne.

Smith and partner Logan Webber are having one of their best weekends since teaming up three years ago, reaching the semifinals of the AVP Tour’s Huntington Beach Open with a pair of hard-fought three-set victories on Saturday.

The 12th-seeded pair will take on top-seeded Miles Partain and Andy Benesh in the first semifinal at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Smith is the son of Sinjin Smith, widely regarded as one of the greatest beach volleyball players in the history of the sport. Smith was the first to win 100 beach volleyball events before finishing his career with 139 titles.

Hagen Smith, who turned 30 last month, has been competing on the AVP Tour since 2017, but has yet to reach a final of a major event.

“We want to win this,” Smith said. “We’re trying to establish ourselves as one of the dogs.”

Smith showed the type of intensity and emotion that was a trademark of his father’s style.

At one point during the quarterfinal match, Smith ripped off his tank top following a successful spike, drawing a roar from the crowd.

“I tested it and I heard the little rip and I just went for it,” Smith said. “You’ve got to know whether it’s the right time to rip a jersey or not because sometimes it just doesn’t go and then you look like an idiot.”

Watching from beyond one of the end lines in the shadow of the pier was Sinjin.

“I wasn’t strong enough to do that,” Sinjin said of the shirt tear. “He’s good. He knows how to play to the crowd, which is important, I think, for all sports. You want the people to connect with the athletes. It makes them want to come out and watch and cheer.”

Hagen Smith and Webber took on the fifth-seeded pair of Tim Bomgren and Paul Lotman in the first round and lost the first set 20-22 before winning the next two 21-18, 15-11.

The duo then faced the 13th-seeded Brazilian pair of Alison and Alvaro Filho, who had knocked off fourth-seeded Chaim Schalk and James Shaw in the first round, and Smith and Webber advanced with a 22-20, 20-22, 15-13 win.

“It’s really hard to watch because it’s nerve-wracking for me. I know what he’s capable of,” said Sinjin, who turned 68 on Wednesday. “When he does well, it’s not much better. It makes you want to cry as a parent. You feel so good for him.”

Hagen Smith grew up in the Pacific Palisades and was a two-year letterman as a setter and outside hitter for the boys’ volleyball team at Loyola High.

He then followed in his father’s footsteps and went on to play four seasons of indoor volleyball at UCLA, ending his career fourth in program history in assists and sixth in digs.

Smith went through a series of partners during his early years on the AVP Tour before settling on Webber, a Michigan native who stands 6-9.

“Other than the two Olympic teams, we’re the longest-running men’s partnership right now,” Webber said. “We’re always finding new stuff to work on, so it’s fun. We’re very comfortable with each other.”

Sinjin Smith struggled early in his career until teaming with Karch Kiraly, and then another future Hall of Famer, Randy Stoklos.

“I think he and Logan are a good team,” Sinjin said. “You have to play with the right person that complements your style of play.”

Second-seeded Chase Budinger and Miles Evans, the other 2024 Olympic team in the field along with Partain and Benesh, will face third-seeded Taylor Crabb and Billy Allen in the other semifinal at 11 a.m.

The top four seeded teams in the women’s draw also reached the semifinals.

Top-seeded Kristen Nuss and Taryn Brasher will face fourth-seeded Kelly Cheng and Molly Shaw in the first women’s semifinal at noon, and second-seeded Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft will take on third-seeded Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes in the second semifinal at 1 p.m.

Cheng is a former El Dorado High and USC star who teamed with Sara Hughes at the 2024 Olympics, but Hughes is sidelined with a calf injury.

Cannon starred for the USC women’s beach volleyball team from 2016-19, and Kraft from 2021-24.