by Alan Babbitt
The Hope College women's outdoor track & field team finished first in 11 events to fuel a winning score of 245 points at the Huntington College (Indiana) Invitational on Saturday.
The Flying Dutch topped runner-up Huntington in the four-team event by 84 points.
Junior Mitchel Achien'g of Nairobi, Kenya (Kisumu School), pictured left, recorded the best performances in four individual events and anchored the winning 4x400 relay.
In the 100-meter dash, Achien'g clocked Hope's season-best time of 12.82 seconds.
Achieng cleared 1.44 meters in the high jump (4 feet 8 ¾ inches) while also leaping 10.58 meters in the triple jump (34-8 ½) and 5.22 meters in the long jump (17-1 ½).
Achieng ran the third leg in the first-place 4x400 relay that finished in 4:10.98. She ran with senior Allison VanderStoep of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa), freshman Brenna Bastien of West Olive, Michigan (Allendale) and junior Nicole Kruithof of Byron Center, Michigan (South Christian).
Pole vaulter Emma Johnson of Wentzville, Missouri (Timberland), pictured right, won after clearing a Hope season-best 3.06 meters (10-0 1/2).
In the 100 hurdles, junior Hannah Huizen of Jenison, Michigan (Jenison) won with a time of 16.94 seconds.
Hope swept the top two spots in the 400 hurdles: junior Hailey Pickelheimer of Powell, Ohio (Olentangy Liberty) in first at 1:09.09 and freshman Hayley Scollard of Traverse City, Michigan (T.C. Centra) in second at 1:10.62.
In the 3,000-meter run, junior Breanna VanLaan of Lowell, Michigan (Lowell) recorded a first-place time of 11:34.36.
Discus thrower Gretchen Koster won. The sophomore from Falmouth, Michigan (McBain) posted a throw of 37.46 meters (122-11).
Shot putter Jenna Breuker finished first. The freshman from Grand Rapids, Michigan (Forest Hills Eastern) heaved a toss of 12.78 meters (41-11 1/4/).
Hope's next meet is Friday-Saturday, April 19-20 at the Grand Valley State University Al Owens Classic.
