The Hope College men's track & field is in first place after the first day of the two-day Emory Classic in Atlanta.
The Flying Dutchmen totaled 54 points during Friday's competition and are one point ahead of second-place Emory. Saturday's events begin at 9:30 a.m.
Senior Gavin Midlam of East Lansing, Michigan (East Lansing HS) won the 400-meter hurdles in 55.09 seconds.
Sophomore Ben Pederson of Mount Prospect, Illinois (Prospect HS) clocked a runner-up performance in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 9 minutes, 39.46 seconds.
Junior Ryan Arndt of Holland, Michigan (Zeeland West HS) and freshman Justice Burley of Holland, Michigan (Holland HS) took third and fourth, respectively, in the javelin at 42.81 meters (140-05) and 41.16 meters (135-0).
Sophomore William Henkel of Lambertville, Michigan (Erie-Mason HS) placed fourth in the high jump at 1.80 meters (5-10 ¾).
Hope's A 4x800 relay came in fifth as freshman Ryan Holman of Holmen, Wisconsin (Holman HS), senior Austin Elluru of Portage, Michigan (Kalamazoo Hackett HS), sophomore Peter Timperman of Lafayette, Indiana (Faith Christian HS) and freshman Matt Webb of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Grandville HS) went 8:16.75.
Hope's B relay was sixth as sophomore Austin Bessinger of Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven HS), freshman Nicholas Johnson of Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven HS), freshman Ben Madison of Kalamazoo, Michigan (Gull Lake HS) and senior Alek Molenaar of East Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids HS) went 9:42.94.
Senior Dion Goliday of Muskegon, Michigan (Oakridge HS) was seventh in the long ump at 6.22 meters (20-5).
