ANGOLA, Ind. – The Calvin women's indoor track and field team took fourth at the MIAA Indoor Championships on Saturday, posting a final team score of 91.5 points. Host Trine captured the team title with 173 points with Hope second (130) and Albion third (94).
Sophomore Delaney Sall (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) highlighted the day for the Knights by winning the 800 meters with an MIAA-record time of 2:11.79. The time by Sall crushed her own previous MIAA indoor record of 2:16.53. Her time on Saturday currently ranks fourth on the NCAA Division III Indoor Performance list.
Sall was part of a powerful 1-3-5 Calvin finish in the 800 meters with senior Sadie Heeringa (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) taking third (2:18.27) and freshman Natalie Tebben (Lansing, Mich./Lansing Christian HS) fifth (2:24.11).
Heeringa had a high profile race in the mile run, taking second with a time of 5:10.56, just behind Evie Miller of Trine who came across the line in 5:10.01. Miller currently owns the second-fastest time in Division III (women's track and field) in the mile while Heeringa has the sixth-fastest.
Senior Haley Weesies (Grand Rapids, Mich./Calvin Christian HS) had a strong race in the mile, taking sixth with a time of 5:32.77.
Heeringa, junior Katie Georges (Bartonville, Il./Limestone Community), freshman Cora Moore (Phoenix, Az./North Phoenix Prep) and Sall later powered to a second place time of 4:11.39 in the 4x400 meter relay.
Moore added an eighth place time of 27.57 in the 200 meters.
In the 3,000 meters, sophomore Jenna Allman (Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline HS) had a superb race, placing second in a time of 10:23.33. Calvin went 2-5-8 in the event with junior Sienna Ruiter-Diaz (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) fifth (10:44.79) and senior Brynne Winiarski (Naperville, Il./Neuqua Valley HS) eighth (11:01.30).
Calvin's distance medley relay team of Allman, freshman Kirsten DenBleyker (Gilbert, Az./Valley Christian HS), Teen and Ruiter-Diaz placed second in a time of 12:48.89.
Senior Renee Miller (Marlette, Mich./Marlette HS) had a strong all-around day, taking second in the long jump (18-0 ¼) and 60 meter hurdles (9.31).
In the weight throw, senior Waverly VerHill (Pittsburgh, Pa./Trinity Christian HS) was fourth with a throw of 50-6.
Freshman Isabella Charron (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton HS) took fourth in the pole vault (9-0 ¼) with sophomore Jessye Vanden Akker (Whitinsville, Mass./Whitinsville Christian HS) placed fourth in the triple jump (35-0 ¼).
COACHES COMMENT: "I was very proud of our women's team," said Calvin head track and field coach Bret Otte. "I thought they competed extremely hard and supported each other. Delaney had an outstanding day and should be recognized but we had so many other terrific performances. Our team stepped up and did well."
