Outdoor Track and Field Teams Compete Against Alma and Hope
The Olivet College men's and women's outdoor track and field team fell to Alma College and Hope College in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association dual meets today at Calvin College.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Olivet College men's and women's outdoor track and field team fell to Alma College and Hope College in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association dual meets today at Calvin College.
Calvin and Adrian also competed because of a weather postponement earlier in the week. Their scores were not counted because Olivet has already run against Adrian and will compete against Calvin later this upcoming week.
The Fighting Comets fell to Alma, 92-46 and Hope, 108-35. They had eight top five finishes. Senior Benji Garza (Holland High School) led the way with a second place finish in the javelin (51.10 meters) and tied for fourth in the shot put (12.87 meters). His 51.10 meter toss in the javelin breaks his own school record from a year ago.
In other field events, senior Trent Harvey (Charlotte/Maple Valley High School) was fourth in both the discus (42.51 meters) and javelin (48.15 meters). Freshman Joe Cox (Flint/Carman-Ainsworth High School) tied Garza for fourth in the shot put. In running events, freshman Ryan Newberry (South Haven High School) was third in the 200-meter dash (23.02 seconds) and fourth in the 100-meter dash (11.68 seconds).
The Lady Comets lost to Alma, 108-24 and Hope, 141-9. They did not have any top-five finishes. Freshman Bethany VanHaitsma (Marion High School) tied for eighth place in the pole vault (2.43 meters) and was 10th in the javelin (25.32 meters). Freshman Deanna Thompson (Howard City/Tri-County High School) tied VanHaitsma in the pole vault. The 2.43 meter vault breaks the school record that VanHaitsma set at the season-opening meet on March 22.
The Comets will next be in action on Wednesday, April 16, when they return to Grand Rapids to compete in MIAA dual meets against Calvin and Albion. Action will begin at 2 p.m.