RESULTS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Calvin put together a solid opening day of competition in the first-ever MIAA decathlon competition. Through day one, Calvin has four athletes positioned inside the top eight led by sophomore Zach VanBaren (Hudsonville, Mich./Covenant Christian HS) who sits in second place.

VanBaren has a day one total of 3,222 points, 10 points ahead of Morgan Johnson (Trine University) and 382 points back of Ethan Spahr (Trine University) who holds the day one lead.

Sophomore Bob Horton (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) is in fourth with 3,042 points with freshman Rhys Bedford (Delton, Mich./Delton-Kellogg HS) fifth (2,936 points) and freshman Hunter Bristow (Belding, Mich./Belding HS) seventh (2,754 points).

VanBaren had a career-best throw of 42-9 ½ to win the shot put portion of day one. The throw was a career-best by a foot-and-a-half. He was fifth in the 100 meter dash (11.59), fifth in the long jump (18-8 ½), second in the high jump (6-2) and fifth in the 400 meters (54.99). His mark in the high jump was a career-best.

Competing in his first decathlon, Horton sparkled on day one, running 11.23 in the 100 meters for second place. He placed sixth in the long jump (18-2 ½), sixth in the high jump (5-5 ¾), sixth in the shot put (31-8) and first in the 400 meters (51.31).

Bedford and Bristow were also competing in their first decathlon competition.

Bedford was fourth in the 100 meter dash (11.56), second in the long jump (20-6 ¼), eighth in the shot put (28-2 1/4), fifth in the high jump (5-8) and sixth in the 400 meters (55.13).

Bristow was eighth in the 100 meters (12.15), seventh in the long jump (17-11 ¾), fourth in the shot put (33-2), second in the high jump (6-2) and ninth in the 400 meters (58.46).

COACHES COMMENT: "All four Calvin men in the inaugural outdoor MIAA combined events competition got off to strong starts," said Calvin head track and field coach Adam Haldorson. "Zach had a huge day in the shot put and high jump. Bob Horton had personal-best performances in all five events. Rhys had personal best in four of the five events. We want to take that momentum into day two and keep working up the standings. This event counts towards the overall MIAA Outdoor Championships. These four men are getting that started for the team in fine fashion!"

NEXT UP: Day two of the competition begins on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Calvin Track and Field Complex.