RESULTS
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Calvin men's track and field team had a strong opening day of competition at the NCAA III Indoor Championships.
Sophomore
Abe VanDuinen (Pentwater, Mich./Pentwater HS) qualified for the championship finals in the 800 meters while junior
Zach Van Baren (Hudsonville, Mich./Covenant Christian HS) moved into 12
th place through day of the two-day heptathlon competition.
Through four events, Van Baren has 2,763 points, just six points out of 11
th and just 81 points out of eighth (scoring) place. Van Baren had a solid run of events on Friday. He entered the meet seeded 19
th out of 20 competitors.
Van Baren opened the day with a time of 7.40 in the 60 meter dash, just a fraction off his career-best time of 7.36. He recorded 745 points with the effort. He then went 6.23 meters in the long jump for 637 points. He uncorked a shot put throw of 13.15 meters for 606 points and finished the day by clearing the high jump bar at 1.89 meters for 705 points.
Jack Balcome of Wisconsin-River Falls leads the heptathlon list with 3,039 points.
VanDuinen advanced to the championship finals in the 800 meters with a sterling effort in the first of three heats of the prelims on Friday. VanDuinen took fourth in his heat in a time of 1:52.89 but ran fast enough to grab the final spot on time for Saturday's championship final. The Pentwater native had nabbed a nationals spot with a school-record performance last Saturday at a last chance meet at Wartburg College and then made good on another weekend opportunity on Friday. He will run in Saturday's championship final at 5 p.m.
COACHES COMMENT: "An excellent first day for our two men's track and field competitors," said Calvin head track and field coach
Adam Haldorson. "Zach had a good steady day and has moved his way up the standings. With a strong final day, he has a chance to make a run at a top-eight individual finish. Abe was terrific. He navigated a tough heat and stayed out of trouble and gave it everything he had. Now he has a big opportunity tomorrow and we are looking forward to watching what he can do on the track."
NEXT UP: The second and final day of competition for the NCAA III Indoor Championships will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
