by Alan Babbitt

Connor Vachon, Eli Meder, Drew Dow and David McHugh topped a group of 15 Top-10 efforts for the Hope College men's indoor track and field team at the Grand Valley State University Bob Eubanks Open on Saturday.

Vachon won the 800 meters. The freshman from Jenison, Michigan (Jenison HS) clocked a time of 1 minute, 56.27 seconds. 

Meder took second behind Vachon. The sophomore from Williamston, Michigan (Lansing Catholic) finished in 1:57.04. Freshman Tyler King was fourth at 1:59.86.

Dow ran to a runner-up effort in the 400 meters. The senior from Bridgman, MIchigan (Bridgman) posted a time of 51.14 seconds. Freshman Samuel Miller (Zionsville, Indiana / Zionsville Community) was eighth at 54.20.

McHugh recorded a third-place triple jump. The senior from Whitehall, Michigan (Muskegon Reeths-Puffer) went 12.13 meters (39 feet, 9 ¾ inches). Junior Case VanderZee (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) had an eighth-place leap of 11.61 meters (38-1 ¼).

In the 4,400 relay, McHugh and Dow teamed with junior Nathaniel Woolum (Mattawan, Michigan / Mattawan) and senior Nathaniel Trumble (Granger, Indiana / Trinity School at Greenlawn) for a third-place effort of 3:25.75.

Photo of Connor Vachon (front) by Lynne Powe

Hope's 4x400 relay of Meder, King, Vachon, and Miller was eighth at 3:32.45.

Woolum finished fifth in the 600 meters at 1:27.46.

Four Hope long jumpers placed in the Top 10: Woolum in fifth at 5.78 meters (18-11 ¾), VanderZee in sixth at 5.77 meters (18-11 ¼), McHugh in the seventh at 5.60 meters (18-4 ½), and freshman Derik Smith (Niles, Michigan / Edwardsburg)  in 10th at 4.83 meters (15-10 ¼).

Junior Jackson Player (San Antonio, Texas / Winston Churchill) recorded a 10th-place 60-meter hurdle run of 8.90 seconds. Woolum was 17th at 9.92.

Freshman Alexander Daniels (Holland, Michigan / Holland) clocked a 12th-place 60-meter run of 7.32 seconds.

Trumble finished 17th in the 200 meters at 23.09.

Hope's next meet is Friday, Jan. 21, at 3 p.m. at Aquinas College.