Hope will be represented by six athletes when the NCAA Division III track and field championships get underway Thursday at Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill. The athletes -- four women and two men -- have qualiified in five events.
Hope will have three entrants in the women's pole vault. Junior Jennifer VanderMeer of Holland, Mich. (Holland HS) will be bidding for All-America honors for a third consecutive year. She was the national silver medalist in both 2004 and 2005 and is seeded fifth (12-5 1/2) in the field of 19 vaulters. Senior Laura Borovsky of Livonia, Mich. (Churchhill HS) is heading back to nationals for a second year seeded 19th (11-7 3/4). Senior Maureen Warfield of Adrian (Adrian HS) rounds out the vaulting trio seeded 11th (12-0).
Junior Ryan Ter Louw of Pella, Iowa (Pella HS) and senior Jeff Weber of Grandville, Mich. (Grandville HS) are returning NCAA All-Americans in the 1,500-meter run. Weber finished seventh in the 1,500 at the 2004 national meet while TerLouw was the seventh place finisher a year ago. TerLouw is seeded seventh (3:50.70) at this year's meet while Weber is seeded 11th (3:52.09). TerLouw has also qualified for the 5,000-meter run seeded fourth (14:31.29).
Sophomore Lindsay Lange of Manistee, Mich. (Manistee HS) is seeded second in the heptathlon, a two-day, seven-event competition. The events are 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin and 800-meter run. Lange is also seeded 16th (:14.57) in the 100-meter hurdles event. As a freshman Lange was an NCAA All-American in the 400-meter dash (seventh place).