Four Hope athletes will compete in five events at the NCAA Division III track and field championships to be held Thursday thru Saturday at Marietta College in Ohio.
Senior Nora Kuiper of Parchment (Parchment HS) will compete in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. An All-American in the 100 a year ago, Kuiper is seeded second among 21 entrants. Her best time this spring has been a Hope record of :11.94. The top-seeded entrant is Callen Martin of Wilmington, Ohio at :11.85. Kuiper is seeded seventh (:24.75) among 20 entrants in the 200. The top-seeded entrant is Brooke Bell of UW-Whitewater (:23.98).
Sophomore John Donkersloot of Zeeland (Zeeland East HS) will compete in the high jump for the second straight year. As a freshman he placed ninth at nationals (6-6). He is seeded sixth among 18 entrants with a season-high jump of 6 feet, 9 3/4 inches. The top-seeded entrant is Al Winsley of Mississippi College at 7 feet, 1 inch.
Senior Rob Bailey of Ogden Dunes, Ind. (Portage, Ind. HS) will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. He is seeded ninth among 16 entrants Hope's recordholder in the event (9:09.89), Bailey's best time this spring has been 9:10.61. The top-seeded entrant is Pete Kosgel of Hamilton, N.Y. in 8:52.87.
Sophomore Kara VandeGuchte of Hamilton (Hamilton HS) will compete in the seven-event heptathlon. She is seeded 19th among 20 entrants with 4,313 qualifying points. The top-seeded entrant is Ashley Huston of Hardins-Simmons, Tex. with 5,138 qualifying points. The heptathlon consists of the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter dash, long jump, javelin and 800-meter run. Graduate Lindsay Lange was a three-time All-American in the event, most recently finishing fourth in 2008.