The Calvin men's track and field continued its opening weekend of the outdoor track and field season, competing at the Emory Thrills in the Hills Invitational and at the North Central College Distance Fling on Friday.

NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE DISTANCE FLING (Results)

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Calvin competed in several distance events. Sophomore Vaughn Meyer (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) highlighted the day by winning the 5000 meter run in a time of 15:10.17. Junior Pierce Bentley (Kalamazoo, Mich./Otsego HS) was sixth (15:29.24) and freshman Kyler Dale (Urbana, Ind./Manchester Jr.) seventh (15:34.26).

Sophomore Brewer Snay (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North) was third in the 10,000 meters (32:00.40) with freshman Ian Reynolds (Littleton, Colo./Denver Christian) eighth (32:53.71) and sophomore Jonathan Koetje (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) 10^th (32:59.11).

In the 1500 meter run, freshman Samuel Downing (Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland East HS) was fourth (4:06.18) and sophomore Jack DeKruyter (Holland, Mich./Zeeland West HS) 11^th (4:10.04).

EMORY THRILLS IN THE HILLS INVITATIONAL (Results)

ATLANTA, Ga. – Calvin concluded day two of the Emory Thrills in the Hills Invitational in strong fashion. Friday marked the conclusion of the two-day, 10-event decathlon.

Sophomore Rhys Bedford (Delton, Mich./Delton Kellogg HS) placed eighth in a field of 16 competitors with a final score of 5,282 points, surpassing his previous career-best of 5,153 points set last May. Junior Zach Van Baren (Hudsonville, Mich./Covenant Christian HS) also competed in the event but did not complete all 10 of the events.

On Friday, Bedford was second in the 110 high hurdles (15.25), threw 66-6 in the discus, cleared the pole vault bar at 8-4 ½, threw the javelin 87-6 and ran 5:17.28 in the 1500 meters.

Van Baren had the top time in the 110 high hurdles in 15:19. He was third in the discus at 107-5. He was fifth in the pole vault (12-3 ¾) and threw the javelin 125-0 feet.

In the hammer throw, sophomore Carson Arnould (Hudsonville, Mich./Zeeland West HS) was eighth with a career-best throw of 159-5. Freshman Alex Lutgring (Battle Creek, Mich./Pennfield) had a big throw of 150-11 in his first outdoor collegiate competition. Freshman James McCoy (University City, Mo./Lutheran High School North) was 22^nd (129-6).

In the javelin, senior Colin Jambekar (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Grosse Pointe North) was seventh (152-3) with McCoy 10^th (135-1).

Calvin went 1-2-4-10 in the high jump. Freshman Sam Abadalla (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern HS) won the competition with a jump of 6-4 with freshman Eric Barancik (Montrose, Mich./Chesaning HS) second (6-4), sophomore Simon Vandenbroek (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) fourth (6-2) and sophomore Peyton Coffey (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) 10^th (6-2).

In the triple jump, junior Luke Nguyen (Houston, Tx./Carl Wunsche Sr.) was sixth (44-11 34) and freshman Alex Guidry (Cypress, Tx./Cypress Creek HS) seventh (44-4 ¾).

In the 400 meter hurdles, junior Bob Horton (Rockford, Mich./Rockford HS) was eighth (55.40), freshman Nolan Viviano (Macomb, Mich./Eisenhower HS) 11^th (56.64), sophomore Will Richardson (Stockton, Md./Snow Hill HS) 14^th (57.31) and senior Jonathan Holloway HS) 17^th (58.03).

Calvin had a strong showing in the 200 meters. Freshman Gabe Van Goor (White Lake, Mich./Clarkston HS) was 18^th (22.17), freshman Hudson Shoup (Charlotte, NC/Charlotte Latin HS) 21^st (22.27), senior Connor Lubberts (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) 32^nd (22.60) and sophomore Benjamin Habers (Lake Ann, Mich./Traverse City West) 34^th (22.62).

In the 4x400 meter relay, Calvin's team of Habers, Lubberts, Horton and graduate student Koby VanderWoude (Caledonia, Mich./Caledonia HS) took fourth in 3:17.09.