by Alan Babbitt
Led by sprinter Grace Behrens, the Hope College women's indoor track and field team delivered seven of the Flying Dutch's season-best performances at the Grand Valley State University Open on Saturday.
Behrens, pictured, contributed to four top efforts during the non-scoring meet.
The sophomore from Mishawaka, Indiana (Trinity School at Greenlawn) clocked a 60-meter dash time of 8.26 meters. Sophomore Amanda Lines of Naples, Florida (First Baptist Academy) was right behind her with a run of 8.29 seconds.
In the 200 meters, Behrens recorded a season-best effort of 26.69 seconds.
In the 400 meters, Behrens went a season-best 1:00.80.
Behrens also ran the second leg in the 4x400 relay that ran a season-best 4:14.38. She was joined in the relay by sophomore Claire Benedict of Ada, Michigan (Forest Hills Eastern), sophomore Heleyna Tucker of Midland, Michigan (H.H. Dow), and freshman Erin Moran of Arlington Heights, Illinois (John Hersey).
Benedict posted a season-best, 60-meter hurdle time of 10.13 seconds.
In the triple jump, freshman Taylor Novotny of Batavia, Illinois (Batavia) equaled Ellie Haan's season-best leap of 9.57 meters (31 feet, 4 ¾ inches).
Sophomore Amelia Bont (Chesterfield, Michigan/Anchor Bay) tossed a season-best shot put of 10.75 meters (35-3 ¼).
Hope's next meet is Saturday, February 13 at Trine University.
