Women’s Track and Field Clocks Two Top Qualifying Times During Day 1 of MIAA Outdoor Championships

The Hope College women’s track and field team picked up one medal and recorded two of the top qualifying efforts during Day 1 of the MIAA Outdoor Championships on Thursday at Alma College.

Juniors Catherine Leahy (200 meters) and junior Sara Schermerhorn (400 meters) delivered the best performances for the Flying Dutch while qualifying for the finals on Friday, May 2.

Competition begins at noon with field events. Running finals are scheduled to start at 4:15 p.m.

In the shot put, senior Greta Robrahn (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East) earned a bronze medal with a third-place toss of 12.75 meters (41 feet, 10 inches).

Two more of Robrahn’s teammates scored in the event: Kamryn Bice (Monroe, Michigan / Monroe) in sixth at 11.58 meters (38-0) and Karly Roelofs (Kingsley, Michigan / Kingsley Area) in eighth at 11.10 meters (36-5).

In the 3,000-meter run, senior Maddy Struck (Hainesville, Illinois / Grayslake Central) placed fourth at 11:27.17. Sophomore Annika Sytsma (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Kalamazoo Christian) took fifth after a PR 11:35.11.

Hope is in third place after Day 1 with 27 points. Cavin University leads the seven-team pack with 108 points. Trine University is third with 71.

In the 10,000-meter run, junior Alexis Deighan (Birmingham, Michigan / Seaholm) finished sixth after recording a PR time of 38:56.65.

In the hammer throw, junior Sophia Raymond (Woodstock, Illinois / Woodstock) posted a sixth-place throw of 40.57 meters (133-1).

In the pole vault, sophomore Abigail Cumings (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central) cleared 2.85 meters (9-4 ¼) for seventh place.

During qualifying, the Flying Dutch clocked three of the fastest four qualifying times in the 200-meter run.

Leahy (Elk Rapids, Michigan / Elk Rapids) finished first with a PR run of 44.83 and was followed by Schermerhorn (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West) in third at 25.81 and freshman Sofia Fisher (Lombard, Illinois / Montini Catholic) in fourth at 26.09.

Leahy’s time ranked 44th in NCAA Division III this season.

In the 400-meter run, Hope swept the top two spots in qualifying and advanced two more runners to the final.

Schermerhorn led the effort at 56.71 points and was followed in second by Leahy at 57.74.

Junior Frances Cozzens (Lyman, New Hampshire / Saint Johnsbury Academy) finished fifth at 59.94. Senior Jasmine Zimmerman (Byron Center, Michigan / Home School) was sixth with a PR 1:00.03.

In the 400-meter hurdles, three Hope runners qualified. Junior Molly Durow (Glenview, Illinois / Glenbrook South) posted the second-fastest run during prelims at 1:07.15 and was followed by junior Elliana Johnson (East Lansing, Michigan / Haslett) in fifth after a PR 1:07.96 and Lauren Newens (Sterling Heights, Michigan / Adlai Stevenson) in seventh after a PR 1:10.10.

In the 800-meter run, three Flying Dutch reached the final: Durow in third at 2:18.63, senior Noel Vanderbilt (Saugatuck, Michigan / Home School) in fourth with a PR 2:18.19 and sophomore Amanda Markham (Hoffman Estates, Illinois / William Fremd) in fifth at a season-best 2:19.59.

In the 100-meter run, junior Ava Schmidt (Saline, Michigan / Saline) took eighth during prelims by posting a time of 13.01.