by Alan Babbitt
On a sunny day, Hope College thrower Greta Robrahn shined brightest in the shot put at the Grand Valley State University Al Owens Classic on Saturday.
The freshman from Zeeland, Michigan (Zeeland East) topped a field of 34 entrants in her event at the non-scoring meet with a heave of 12.96 meters (42 feet, 6 1/4 inches).
It was Robrahn's second longest throw this spring, two inches off of her best.
Robrahn, pictured right, also finished fifth in the discus with a season-best toss of 37.75 meters (123-10).
Hope totaled 18 Top-10 finishes during the two-day meet.
In the 400 meters, junior Grace Behrens (Mishawaka, Indiana / Trinity School at Greenlawn), pictured left, clocked a third-place time of 59.60 seconds.
In the 800 meters, junior Ellie Jankowski (Granger, Indiana / Penn) recorded a fourth-place run of 2:19.25.
The Flying Dutch's 4x400 relay placed fourth. Junior Julie Timperman (Lafayette, Indiana / Grace Christian), Behrens, senior Jacinda Cole (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa), and Jankowski had a time of 4:08.98.
In the hammer throw, freshman Marlie McDonald (Saranac, Michigan / Lowell) took fourth at 38.66 meters (126-10).
In the 5,000 meters, sophomore Rebecca Markham (Hoffman Estates, Illinois / William Fremd) finished fifth at 18:30.27. Sophomore Olivia Quillan (Granville, Michigan / Calvin Christian) crossed the finish line ninth at 18:59.52. Libby Gorman (Traverse City, Michigan / St. Francis) was 10th at 19:02.32.
In the 4x100 relay, junior Helen Dodge (Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan/ Grosse Pointe South), junior Amanda Lines (Naples, Florida / First Baptist), sophomore Kimmie Drake (Katy, Texas / Seven Lakes), and Behrens clocked a fifth-place run of 49.58.
In the javelin, sophomore Riki Ediger (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hamilton) finished sixth at 29.39 meters (96-5). Junior Lauren Tocco (Traverse City, Michigan / Home School) placed eighth at 28.47 (93-5). Sophomore Libby Strotman (Park Ridge, Illinois / Maine Township)was 10th at 25.45 (83-6).
In the 1,500, Cole recorded an eighth-place time of 4:44.02.
In the 400 hurdles, senior Hayley Scollard (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City Central) crossed the finish line in eighth at 1:08.39.
In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, freshman Maddy Struck (Hainesville, Illinois / Grayslake Central) recorded an eighth-place run of 12:09.48.
In the 200 meters, Behrens clocked a ninth-place time of 26.15. Dodge was 10th, also at 26.15.
In the triple jump, sophomore Taylor Novotny (Batavia, Illinois / Batavia) finished 10th at 9.62 meters (31-6 3/4).
Hope's next meet is the Hillsdale College Gina Relays on Thursday-Saturday, April 28-30.
