by Dena Meiste
The Hope College women's track and field team kicked-off the 2021 outdoor season at the 29th Annual Polar Bear Invitational, hosted by Indiana Wesleyan.
Senior Addyson Gerig earned runner-up honors in both the high and triple jumps to earn two of the squad's highest finishes of the day.
The Flying Dutch held their own against a vast field, with more than a dozen schools in attendance. Much to everyone's relief, the meet did not live up to its name and was contested under unseasonably warm and sunny conditions.
Gerig opened her senior outdoor campaign in the high jump. After clearing both 1.49 and 1.54 meters on the opening attempt, the senior from Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa HS) was unable to conquer the height of 1.59 meters and landed in a tie for second place.
Gerig moved on to the triple jump and turned in another runner-up result with a distance of 10.56 meters, less than two inches shy of her collegiate career-best (10.59m).
Hannah Kenny (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) turned in a pair of top-five performances, starting with her second-place effort in the 3,000 steeplechase (11:42.75) to open the meet. Later in the day, the senior clocked a 2:21.90 in the 800 meters to place fourth out of 38 runners.
In the 400-meter hurdle race, Hayley Scollard (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City Central) earned another second-place result for Hope with her collegiate-best time of 1:07.93.
Grace Behrens (Mishawaka, Indiana / Trinity School At Greenlawn) took fourth in the 400 meters. The sophomore completed the one lap around the track in less than a minute, with a final time of 59.63.
Behrens also contributed to podium finishes in both relays. She teamed up with Amanda Lines, Madeline Moore (Hillsdale, Michigan / Hillsdale) and Kimmie Drake (Katy, Texas/Seven Lake) to capture third place in the 4x100 relay (50.65).
The quartet of Benedict, Behrens, Scollard and Julie Timperman (Lafayette, Indiana / Faith Christian) produced a time of 4:16.41 in the 4x400 relay; good enough for third.
Lines (Naples, Florida / First Baptist Academy) finished just off the podium in fourth place in the 100 meters after stopping the clock at the 12.49 mark.
Drake also placed sixth in the 100 meters (12.71) in her college outdoor debut. Out of the 42 entrants in the 200 meters, both Lines and Behrens eclipsed the top-10 with times of 25.53 and 25.91, respectively.
Off the track, Ellie Haan (McBain, Michigan / Northern Michigan Christian) set a new career-best for herself in the long jump, traveling a distance of 5.00 meters to place sixth overall.
Next up, the Flying Dutch compete at the Olivet Invitational on Friday, April 2.
