Tracksters Continue Assault on Records; Await Nationals (5/17/12)
The final regular season competition of the spring brought yet another school record performance on Friday during a Last Chance meet at North Central College. Junior Sarah Venlet of Zeeland (Holland Christian HS) broke her own school mark in winning the 400-meter hurdles in 1:02.32. She set the previous mark of 1:02.64 in 2011.

Earlier this spring Hope records were established by junior Joel Rietsema (Rockford/Rockford HS) in the 800-meter run (1:50.38) and sophomore Sheri McCormack (Holland/West Ottawa HS) in the 1,500-meter run (4:35.11).

The next competition for Division III athletes will be the NCAA Championships beginning next Thursday in Claremont, Calif. The qualifiers for nationals will be announced later this weekend. Each event is expected to attract the top 20 tracksters from regular season competition. Through Friday, Joel Rietsema is ranked fifth nationally in the men's 800 and Venlet is 18th in the 400-meter hurdles.

Kyle VanderVeen, Christian Calyore, Catherine Calyore, Sharon Hecker

Nathan Love, Steffon Mayhue, Sheri McCormack, Joel Rietsema, Sarah Venlet

All-MIAA Track & Field Team Announced (5/9/12)
All-MIAA Men's T&F / All-MIAA Women's T&F
All-conference honors have been presented to nine Hope College track and field athletes by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) highlighted by the selection of senior Kyle VanderVeen of Alto (Caledonia HS) as the league's most valuable male runner.

For the first time in school history, both Hope track and field teams were conference champions in the same year, the men's team winning the title outright and the women's team gaining a co-championship with rival Calvin.

A two-time All-MIAA honoree, VanderVeen was the conference champion in the 100 and 200 meter dashes and a member of Hope's winning 4x100 meter relay.

VanderVeen is joined on the All-MIAA team by senior Christian Calyore and sophomore Catherine Calyore of Naples Fla. (Barron Collier HS), junior Sharon Hecker of Grandville (Grandville HS), senior Nathan Love of Midland (Midland HS), sophomore Steffon Mayhue of Holland (Holland HS), sophomore Sheri McCormack of Holland (West Ottawa HS), junior Joel Rietsema of Rockford (Rockford HS), and junior Sarah Venlet of Zeeland (Holland Christian HS). Venlet is being honored for a third consecutive year. Hecker, Love and McCormack earlier received All-MIAA honors in cross country.

Records Established by Hope Tracksters (5/11/12)
Results
Two school track records were established Friday as Hope athletes continued to seek to qualify for the NCAA Division III championships to be held later this month. The Hope athletes were competing in the Dr. Keeler Last Chance Meet hosted by North Central College in Naperville, Ill.

Athletes have one more week to improvement upon their performances. The NCAA Division III championships will be held May 24-26 in Claremont, Calif.

Hope Teams Hoist MIAA Championship Trophies (5/4/12)
Results
For the first time in the history of Hope College track and field, both teams are champions of the MIAA in the same season.

Competing in the 121st MIAA Field Day, the Flying Dutchmen clinched their first outright men's league championship since 1986 while the Flying Dutch gained a co-championship in the women's standings for the first time since 1988.

Coach Kevin Cole's Flying Dutchmen won both the league jamboree and Field Day crown to claim the outright title. It ends a string of 18 consecutive outright or co-titles by Calvin. The Flying Dutch ended Calvin's domination of women's track and field, a streak that ran 22 straight years.

Highlights included an MIAA record time in the 800 meter run by junior Joel Rietsema (1:52.15) and two double winners -- senior Kyle Vanderveen in the 100 and 200 meter dashes and junior Sarah Venlet in the 100 and 400 meter hurdles.

Final Men's Team Scores: 1. Hope 206. 2. Calvin 170. 3. Adrian 123.5. 4. Albion 86. 5. Trine 83.5. 6. Alma 60. 7. Olivet 45.
Final Women's Team Scores: 1. Calvin 273. 2. Hope 156. 3. Alma 107. 4. Adrian 100.5. 5. Albion 69.5. 6. Trine 40. 7. Olivet 30.
HOPE'S MIAA CHAMPIONS
Men's 4 x 100 Relay: Steffon Mayhue, Aaron Chew, Andrew Kreichelt, Kyle VanderVeen, :42.80
Men's 1,500 Meters: Nathan Love, 3:57.74
Men's 110 Meter Hurdles: Christian Calyore, :15.01
Women's 100 Meter Hurdles: Sarah Venlet, 15.43
Men's 100 Meters: Kyle VanderVeen, :10.96
Men's 800 Meters: Joel Rietsema, 1:52.15 (MIAA Record)
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles: Sarah Venlet, 1:04.61
Men's 200 Meters: Kyle VanderVeen, :22.00
Men's Long Jump: Steffon Mayhue, 22' 8-1/2"

Hope Teams Compete at Hillsdale's "Gina" Relays (4/28/12)
Results
Hope's track and field teams competed in the non-scoring Gina Relays hosted by Hillsdale College this past weekend. The meet was the final tuneup before the MIAA conference championship meet to be hosted by Calvin next Thursday and Friday.

Hope Teams Compete at Al Owens Classic (4/21/12)
Results
Hope's track & field athletes competed in the Al Owens Classic hosted by Grand Valley State on Friday and Saturday. The non-scoring meet attracted athletes from all NCAA Divisions.
Women's Meet: Hope athletes finishing in the top ten included Sheri McCormack, 7th in 1,500 meters (4:44.04); Julia Slesinski, 8th in 5,000 meters (19:01.49); Sarah Venlet, 7th in 400 meter hurdles (1:03.99); Amelia Stanley and Jacqueline Kirsch, 6th in pole vault (3.00m); Kristen Reschke, 10th in triple jump (10.48m); Kelsi Vandeguchte, 4th in javelin (34.74m).
Men's Meet: Hope athletes finishing in the top ten included Kyle Vanderveen, 10th in 200 meters (:22.50); Joel Rietsema, 10th in 400 meters (:49.80)Christian Calyore, 9th in 110 meter hurdles (:15.05) and 10th in 400 meter hurdles (:55.30); David Tropp, 10th in high jump (1.85m); Aaron Chew, 10th in pole vault (4.00m); Steffon Mayhue, 3rd in long jump (6.70m); Jonas Lawson, 8th in triple jump (13.13m).

Both Hope Teams Win MIAA Jamboree at Albion (4/14/12)
Results
Both Hope track and field teams captured first place at the MIAA Jamboree hosted by Albion on Saturday. The Jamboree counts for half of the seasonal MIAA standings. The Field Day, to be held May 3-4 at Calvin, determines the other half. Hope and Calvin are the defending MIAA seasonal men's champions while Hope will be seeking to end Calvin's string of 20 consecutive outright league titles.

The outcome of the women's meet came down to the final event. Trailing Calvin by eight points going into the discus, the Flying Dutch outscored the Lady Nights 31-13 to garner the meet titles.

Coached by Kevin Cole, Hope's teams took advantage of their depth to win the meet. In the Jamboree the first three finishers from a school garner points for their team as opposed to the Field Day meet where only the top eight finishers score points.

WOMEN'S MEET: 1. Hope 910.50, 2. Calvin 897.5, 3. Adrian 614, 4. Alma 608, 5. Albion 514, 6. Trine 391, 7. Olivet 305. Hope Winners: Sarah Venlet, 100 Meter Hurdles (:15.84) and 400 Meter Hurdles (1:06.35).

MEN'S MEET: 1. Hope 898, 2. Calvin 784, 3. Albion 693.5, 4. Adrian 668.5, 5. Trine 603, 6. Alma 398, 7. Olivet 276. Hope Winners: Joel Rietsema, 800 Meters (1:52.78); Christian Calyore, 110 Meter Hurdles (:15.45) and 400 Meter Hurdles (:54.51); 4x100 Meter Relay (Steffon Mayhue, Cam Holicki, Andrew Kreichelt, Kyle VanderVeen), :42.72; Steffon Mayhue, Long Jump (22' 1").

Hope Teams Compete at Ferris Invitational (4/7/12)
Results
Hope's track and field teams competed in the non-scoring Ferris State Invitational on Saturday. Hope had double winners in both the women's and men's hurdle events. Junior Sarah Venlet captured the women's 100-meter hurdles (:15.74) and 400-meter hurdles (1:04.52) while senior Christian Calyore won the men's 110-meter hurdles (:15.55) and 400-meter hurdles (:55.69). Jacqueline Kirsch won the women's pole vault (10-2).

Hope Teams Compete in Grand Rapids Open (3/31/12)
Results
Hope's track and field teams competed in the non-scoring Grand Rapids Open featuring western Michigan college athletes at Houseman Field in Grand Rapids.
Men's Highlights: First place winners included Joel Rietsema, 600 meters (1:20.63); Nate Love, 1500 meters (3:59.00); 4x100 Relay (Steffon Mayhue, Cam Holicki, Andrew Kreichelt, Kyle VanderVeen), :43.43; and Steffon Mayhue, long jump (22-5).
Women's Highlights: First place winners included Sheri McCormack, 1500 meters (4:41.99); Catherine Calyore, long jump (16-3 3/4); Kristen Reschke, triple jump (36-4 3/4); and Kelsi Vandeguchte, javelin (103-8).

MIAA Honors Joel Rietsema for Record Performance (3/27/12)
Hope junior Joel Rietsema (Rockford/Rockford HS), has been named the male track athlete of the week by coaches in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). Last Saturday Rietsema broke the Hope record in the 800-meter run by more than a full second at the Emory, Ga. Invitational. He won the event in a time of 1:50.68. Rietsema’s time is the second-fastest 800 time in NCAA Division III so far this spring. The previous record of 1:51.86 was established by Steve Rabuck in 2001. He also ran on Hope’s winning 800-meter relay team as the Flying Dutchmen took first place in the 14-team event.

School Record Highlights Emory Invitational (3/24/12)
Results
Hope's track and field teams concluded a week of preparation for the outdoor season with outstanding performances at the Emory Invitational in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday. The Flying Dutchmen topped the 14-team field edging Wilmington, Ohio by just 1.5 points. The Flying Dutch were second behind host Emory.
Junior Joel Rietsema (pictured) established a Hope record in winning the 800-meter run (1:50.68). The previous record of 1:51.86 was established by Steve Rabuck in 2001. Rietsema's time is the second fastest in Division III so far this spring.

Other first place performances included: senior Nate Love, 1,500 meters (3:56.88); senior Sharon Hecker, 5,000 meters (18:05.64); senior Zach Vossen, discus (135-1); senior Kelly Lufkin, 3,000 meter steeplechase (11:44.26). The men's 4x800 meter relay also took first place (Joel Rietsema, William Hewitt, Nate Love and Andrew Mcleachie), 7:43.69.

Open Meet in Memphis Launches Outdoor Season (3/17/12)
Results
The Hope track and field teams opened their traditional spring break week of training by competing in the Rhodes College Open in Memphis, Tenn. on Saturday. It was a non-scoring meet that attracted athletes from all NCAA divisions, the NAIA and many unattached competitors. Hope had two winners among collegiate competitors -- senior Nate Love in 5,000-meters (15:05.48) and junior Joel Rietsema in 800-meters (1:52.67).
Other Hope top ten performances included: Meredith Busman, 10,000-meters, 7th (40:07.51); Sheri McCormack, 5,000-meters, 5th (17:45.63); Sharon Hecker, mile run, 10th (5:14.74); James Rogers and Andrew Mckeachie, mile run, 8th 4:26.96) and 9th 4:27.10); Christian Calyore, 110 hurdles, 7th (:15.53) and 400-meter hurdles (:56.26); Andrew Mckeachie, 800-meters, 6th (1:57.75); Sarah Venlet, 400-meter hurdles, 4th (1:04.61); Blake Rottschafer, 3,000-meter steeplechase, 5th (9:50.43); Jacqueline Kirsch and Amelia Stanley, pole vault, 8th (9-6 1/4) and 10th (9-0 1/4); Kristen Reschke, triple jump, 4th (33-10 3/4); Jonas Lawson, triple jump, 10th (41-3 1/4); Evan Finch, hammer, 10th (127-0) and shotput, 10th 41-3 3/4); Kelsi Vandeguchte, javelin (17-7).

The Flying Dutchmen will be bidding to repeat as champions of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) with one of the largest pre-season rosters in recent years.

Coach Kevin Cole begins his seventh season with a nucleus of 28 returning letterwinners who a year ago stunned the MIAA by gaining a league co-championship with rival Calvin. In addition to their excellence as competitiors, the 2011 Flying Dutchmen as a team were named to the national All-Academic Team Honor Roll by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for a fifth consecutive year.

The pre-season roster of 50 athletes includes eight freshmen, 19 sophomores, 13 juniors and 10 seniors.

Co-captains are senior Christian Calyore of Naples, Fla. (Barron Collier HS), senior Nate Love of Midland (Midland HS), and junior Zak Vossen of Belmont (Northview HS).

Middle distance runner Andrew McKeachie of Milford (Milford HS) is a returning All-MIAA honors. Juniors Elliott Barney of South Holland, Ill. (Seton Academy) and Joel Rietsema of Rockford (Rockford HS) were members of MIAA champion relay teams. Barney received All-MIAA honors in 2010 as the conference champion in the 400-meter run while senior Kyle VanderVeen of Alto (Caledonia HS) was honored in 2009 after winning the 100-meter dash. Nate Love is a two-time All-MIAA cross country runner who competed in the NCAA championships last fall.

Returning athletes who had team-best performances in 2011 include Joel Rietsema, 800 meters; sophomore James Rogers of Saginaw (Valley Lutheran HS), 3,000 meters; Nate Love, 5,000 meters; sophomore Thomas Smeltzer of Frankfort (Benzie Central HS), 10,000 meters; senior Kyle Gibson of Alma (Alma HS), 3,000 meter steeplechase; sophomore Michael Rosso of Grand Haven (Grand Haven HS), pole vault; sophomore Steffon Mayhue of Holland (Holland HS), long jump; junior Jonas Lawson of Inkster (Robichaud HS), triple jump; Zak Vossen and sophomore Evan Finch of Ann Arbor (Pioneer HS), shotput; Zak Vossen, discus; and senior Andrew Chew of Novi (Northville HS), javelin.

The Gordon M. Brewer outdoor track underwent some major upgrades during the off-season, including an expansion to accommodate the running of the steeplechase and the installation of improved facilities for the hammer throw.

Hope Teams Compete in Michigan-Indiana Invitational (2/25/12)
Men's Results / Women's Results
Hope's track and field teams concluded the indoor portion of their season with second place finishes at the Michigan-Indiana Indoor Championships hosted by Calvin on Saturday.
Men's Scores: 1. Calvin 135, 2. Hope 125, 3. Aquinas 115, 4. Trine 96, 5. Adrian 92.5, 6. Albion 36.5, 6. Alma 36.5, 8. Olivet 17.5.
Women's Scores: 1. Calvin 161.5, 2. Hope 11.5, 3. Adrian 101, 4. Alma 81, 5. Aquinas 61, 6. Trine 53, 7. Albion 50, 8. Olivet 232.
Hope event winners were: women's distance medley relay (Salome Emmanuel, Andrea Clack, Katie Carlson, Camille Borst), 12:46.20; Joel Rietsema, 800 meters (1:55.27); Steffon Mayhue, long jump (21-8).

Indoor Tuneups Continue at Grand Valley Invite (2/17/12)
Results
The Hope track and field teams continued their season preparations by competing in the non-scoring Grand Valley State indoor tuneup on Friday. Hope athletes took first among collegiate competitors in four events -- Meredith Busman, 5,000 meters (18:40.13); Joel Rietsema, 800 meters (1:54.80); Nate Love, 3,000 meters (8:32.92); and Steffon Mayhue, long jump (21-3 1/2).

Hope Teams Continue Season Preparations (1/27/12)
Results
Hope athletes continued their preparations for the track and field season by competing in a four-team indoor invitational hosted by Calvin College on Friday. The Flying Dutchmen finished third in the men's standings while the Flying Dutch ended fourth among the women. Hope event winners were Kristen Reschke, high jump (5-1) and Christian Calyore, 60-meter hurdles (08.89).

Season Begins With Indoor Open at GVSU (1/20/12)
Results
The track and field season at Hope got underway Friday with the indoor Mike Lints Alumni Open hosted by Grand Valley State University. The non-scoring meeting attracted 900 athletes from all collegiate divisions as well as many non-attached competitors. Hope athletes who placed in the top ten of an event were: Sheri McCormack, 7th in 800 meters (2:19.82); Joel Rietsema, 7th in 600 meters (1:22.76); Samuel Pederson, 4th in 5,000 meters (15:25.41); Christian Calyore, 9th in 60 meter hurdles (:08.69); men's 4x400 meter relay (Joel Rietsema, Mark Soisson, Cam Holicki, Elliott Barney), 3:28.78; Steffon Mayhue, 6th in long jump (21-4); Jonas Lawson, 8th in triple jump (40-5); David Dolfin, 9th in triple jump (40-0).