Hope Tracksters Launch Season at GVSU (1/29/10)
Open Results
Hope's track and field teams opened their seasons Friday by competing in the Grand Valley State University Open. The indoor competition was a non-scoring meet. Senior co-captain Jeff Minkus took first place in the triple jump (45-1) to highlight the Hope performances. Sophomore Elliott Barney finished second in the 600 meter run (1:25.45) while junior John Donkersloot tied for third in the high jump (6-5) and sophomore Michelle Irvin was third in the long jump (16-3 1/4).

The 2010 Flying Dutch feature a squad that has a blend of veterans and collegiate newcomers.

The Flying Dutch return 24 letterwinners from a team that finished second in the 2009 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) standings and 13th place finish at the NCAA Division III championships.

Coach Kevin Cole begins his fifth season with a squad that includes 12 freshmen, 25 sophomores, 14 juniors and four seniors.

In 2009 the Flying Dutch scored a school-record 18 points at the national championships. Gone from that team is Nora Kuiper, Hope's first female national track and field champion who won the gold medal in the 100-meter dash. Returning is junior Kara VandeGuchte of Hamilton (Hamilton HS) who placed 20th at nationals in the heptathlon. VandeGuchte is an All-MIAA athlete in both volleyball and track & field.

Sophomore Kate Nelson of Williamston (Williamston HS) is also a returning All-MIAA trackster and has received all-conference honors in cross country (2008). Four Flying Dutch received All-MIAA honors in cross country this past fall -- junior Emily Fischer of Naperville, Ill. (Naperville Central HS), freshman Taylor Mattarella of Traverse City (Traverse City Central HS), Kelly Lufkin of Houghton (Houghton HS), and jnior Susan Savasky of Berkley (Marian HS).

Co-captains of the team are Emily Fischer, senior Haleigh Gokey of Mattawan (Paw Paw HS) and Kara VandeGuchte.

The Flying Dutch are defending MIAA champions in the 4x100 meter relay. Returning from that relay are VandeGuchte, junior Emily Kreichelt of Northville (Northville HS), and sophomore Rachel Walton of Columbus, Ohio (Worthington Christian HS).

Other returning letterwinners include sophomore Alyssa Ambrose of Okemos (Okemos HS), junior Claire Bird of New Paltz, N.Y. (New Paltz), junior Katelyn Brundige of Vicksburg (Vicksburg HS), sophomore Tracy Dekoekkoek of Martin (Kalamazoo Christian HS), sophomore Salome Emmanuel of Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton Northern HS), sophomore Katrina Gobrogge of Napoleon, Ohio (Archbold HS), junior Heidi Grooters of Jenison (Jenison HS), sophomore Jacqueline Kirsch of Harbor Beach (Harbor Beach HS), junior Rachael Kutney of St. Claire Shores (Lakeshore HS), senior Emma Lucas of Boon (Cadillac HS), junior Andrea Miller of Algonquin, Ill. (Dundee Crown HS), sophomore Kristen Reschke of Naperville, Ill. (Naperville Central HS), sophomore Emily Streelman of Jenison (Unity Christian HS), sophomore Ashley Tufnell of East Lansing (Okemos HS), junior Sarah VanderMeer of Holland (Holland HS), and sophomore Kristen Warriner 0f Eaton Rapids (Eaton Rapids HS).

Flying Dutch Crown First National Champion

Senior Nora Kuiper of Parchment, Mich. (Parchment HS) captured the gold medal in the 100-meter dash and finished second in the 200-meter dash at the 2009 NCAA Division III track and field championships. She became the first Hope female track and field athlete to win a national championship and the second in school history joining high jumper Rob Appell (1985). In the finals at Marietta, Ohio, Kuiper had a stadium and Hope record time of :11.84. Kuiper was also an All-American in the 100 in 2008 with a fifth place finish. With just over an hour to regroup before competing again, Kuiper came back with a silver medal performance in the 200-meter dash finishing second with a school record time of :24.35. Kuiper becomes Hope's first All-American in the 200 and the first Hope female athlete in 16 years to medal twice in the same year at the national meet.

Sophomore Kara VandeGuchte of Hamilton, Mich. (Hamilton HS) can chalk up her first appearance on a national stage in the heptathlon as a learning experience. The sophomore ended 20th in a field of 20 competitors at the NCAA Division III championships. The seven-event heptathlon concluded Friday. She ended with 3,964 points. The national champion is Ashley Huston of Hardin-Simmons, Tex. with 5,242 points. VandeGuchte's performance were: eighth in the 200-meter dash (:26.85), ninth in ther 100-meter hurdles (:15.47), 14th in the high jump (4-10 1/2), 16th in the shotput (29-9 1/4) and javelin ()86-7), 18th in the 800-meter run (2:42.0), and 19th in the long jump (14-8).

2009 TEAM HONORS & 2010 CAPTAINS
Most Valuable Trackster - Nora Kuiper, senior from Parchment (Parchment HS)
Most Valuable Field Performer - Leonie Grosse, freshman from Everswinkel Germany
2010 Captains - Emily Fischer, sophomore from Naperville, Ill. (Naperville Central HS); Haleigh Gokey, junior from Mattawan (Paw Paw HS); Kara Vande Guchte, sophomore from Hamilton (Hamilton HS)

Four Hope Athletes Honored by MIAA
All-conference track & field honors have been awarded to four Hope athletes, including the MIAA's most valuable track female performer award. Senior sprinter Nora Kuiper of Parchment, Mich. (Parchment HS), the league's 100-meter and 200-meter champion, becomes the first Hope female track athlete to receive the league MVP award since 1994. The NCAA All-American was the MIAA 100-meter champion four consecutive years.

Kuiper is joined on the All-MIAA team by freshman Leonie Grosse of Everswinkel, Germany; freshman Kate Nelson of Williamston, Mich. (Williamston HS); and sophomore Kara VandeGuchte of Hamilton, Mich. (Hamilton HS).

Hope Teams Second at MIAA Field Day
Field Day Results
The Flying Dutch finished secibd at the 117th annual Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association 9MIAA) Field Day.

Hope had five gold medal performances led by a pair of double winners. Senior Nora Kuiper of Parchment, Mich. (Parchment) who won both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. while freshman Leonie Grosse of Everswinkel, Germany took the gold in the long jump and javelin.

Hope also won the 4x100 meter relay with a quartet of Rachel Walton, a freshman from Columbus, Ohio (Worthington Christian HS); Kara VandeGuchte, a sophomore from Hamilton, Mich. (Hamilton HS); Emily Kreichelt, a sophomore from Northville, Mich. (Northville HS); and Nora Kuiper, a senior from Parchment, Mich. (Parchment HS).