RESULTS

GENEVA, Oh. – Calvin junior Sophie Bull concluded her track and field campaign in the best way possible – as a national champion. A native of Denver, Colorado, Bull captured the NCAA III title in the 3,000 meter steeplechase on Friday with a school-record time of 10:11.73. The time is the fourth-fastest in NCAA III women's track and field history. A graduate of Denver Christian High School, Bull becomes the first individual in Calvin women's track and field history to win a national title in the steeplechase. Bull took first place in Friday's race by a margin just under 12 seconds as Audrey Maclean of Middlebury took second in 10:23.59. Bull's winning time on Friday was a personal best by nearly 13 seconds.

The race by Bull marked the 18^th national championship performance in Calvin women's outdoor track and field history including the first since Nicole Michmerhuizen won the national title in the 10,000 meter run in 2013.

Bull entered the national meet seeded second with a time of 10:24.32. She cruised into Friday's finals with a smooth prelims race of 10:38.09.Thursday's prelims set Bull up for a run at the title on Friday and she made no mistake with the opportunity.

In the opening three laps, Bull moved into a lead group of four runners. She and Maclean broke away into a lead duo with less than a mile to go. With 800 meters left in the race, Bull put the hammer down and sprinted into the lead and continued to extend her advantage. Needing just a clean clearance of the remaining barriers over the final 200 meters, Bull did just that as she cruised across the line in dominating fashion.

Moments after crossing the line in triumph, Bull raised her hands to her head in disbelief at her achievement.

"Heading into the (Friday) race, I felt nervous but also pretty confident that I would run well," said Bull. "Yesterday's (prelims) race was a confidence booster. Today I just wanted to settle in early, clear barriers and take it one lap at a time. As the race progressed, I felt I had some more (fuel) left in the tank. With 800 to go I made a move to see if it would stick and it did. I was hoping to PR, I just didn't think it would be this much. This feels totally unreal. Very exciting but totally unreal. I knew I had a chance. I knew I was a contender. For it to happen still doesn't feel real. I'm super excited."

Calvin distance coach Nicole Kramer who also doubles as Calvin's head cross country coach was a steeplechase runner herself at Calvin from 2006–2010. Kramer has witnessed the evolution of steeplechase running with the Calvin women's track and field program which has now produced nine All-America races and now a national champion.

"We witnessed greatness today with Sophie's dominant performance in the steeplechase final," said Kramer. "To no one's surprise, Sophie executed her race flawlessly. She stayed patient and composed through the first half of the race at a steady clip, and by that point a clear top four emerged and she was exactly where she wanted to be. She continued to attack the barriers with efficiency and poise until she trusted her instincts and went for it. Coming up on two laps to go, with rain pouring down, she made a confident move that no one could challenge and the rest became history."

The raced marked a trifecta for Bull as she claimed All-America honors in cross country in the fall and again in March at the NCAA III Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 5,000 meter run and came up with outdoor track and field All-America honors with her national title on Friday. It also marked her second consecutive All-America finish in the steeplechase she finished fifth in the race at the 2024 national meet.

"This whole season has been one big ramp for Sophie," said Calvin head track and field coach Adam Haldorson. "This fall in cross country, she started super strong. During the indoor season she took her distance running even higher, setting the stage for the ultimate track race in the steeplechase. She drew on the strength of her previous performances and took it to a higher level today. She is a fierce competitor and we all witnessed that competitive fire this afternoon. It is crazy exciting to see her take hold of Calvin's rich and storied track and field tradition and take it to even higher heights."

Bull credited the Calvin coaching staff including Kramer and Haldorson for helping her reach those heights.

"My coaches have definitely helped me so much during my career at Calvin," said Bull. "The training that I had coming pushed my fitness to a new level and gave me a ton of confidence. Because of that,I knew I could compete really well (at the national level). My coaches have encouraged me when I am stressed and supported me through everything. I can't say thank you enough to all of my coaches for the entire (academic) year and how they have helped me grow."

In addition, Bull's national title gave Calvin 10 points in the team standings, good for 10^th place in the overall team standings.

NCAA III NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCES IN CALVIN WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD HISTORY

4x100 Meter Relay - 1993 – (Patsy Orkar, Angie Feinauer, Kathy Haddox, Shawn Farmer)
Long Jump - 1993 – Angie Feinauer 
4x400 Meter Relay - 1994 – (Holly Breuker, Melissa Dykstra, Shawn Farmer, Kathy Haddox)
400 Meter Hurdles - 1996 – Holly Breuker
3,000 Meters – 1997 – Betsy Haverkamp
4x400 Meter Relay – 1999 – (Kristi VanWoerkom, Sara Veltkamp, Lindsay Mulder, Megan Pierce)
400 Meters - 1999 – Megan Pierce
4x400 Meter Relay -  2000 – (Mindy Worst, Sara Veltkamp, Lindsay Mulder, Megan Pierce)
400 Meters - 2000 – Megan Pierce
4x400 Meter Relay -  2001 – (Mindy Worst, Sara Veltkamp, Lindsay Mulder, Megan Pierce)
Long Jump - 2001 – Lindsay Mulder
Heptathlon – 2003 – Annie VanderLaan
Heptathlon - 2006 – Christine Hendricks
400 Meter Hurdles – 2008 – Sarah Wittingen
400 Meters – 2010 – Rachel Boerner
400 Meter Hurdles – 2010 – Rachel Boerner
10,000 Meter Run – 2013 – Nicole Michmerhuizen
Steeplechase – 2025 – Sophie Bull


ALL-TIME CALVIN WOMEN'S STEEPLECHASE ALL-AMERICANS

2005 – Sarah Hastings – 5^th place
2010 – Elizabeth Smit – 5^th place
2011 – Gretchen Braymer – 7^th place
2012 – Alyssa Penning – 5^th place
2021 -  Annie Needs - 6th place
2024 -  Jenna Allman - 15th place (2nd Team All-American)
2024 -  Sophie Bull - 5th place
2025 -  Jenna Allman – 16^th place (2^nd Team All-American)
2025 – Sophie Bull – 1^st place (National Champion)