Men's Track and Field Breaks School Record, Takes First at Wheaton Invitational

Pictured, from left, Liam Danitz, Nathan Woolum, Alex Daniels and Nolan Sanders

The Hope College men's track and field broke an eight-year school record while winning the 11-team Wheaton College (Ill.) Invitational on Saturday.

The Flying Dutchmen's 4x100 relay of sophomore Nolan Sanders (Midland, Michigan / H.H. Dow HS), senior Nathan Woolum (Mattawan, Michigan / Mattawan), junior Alex Daniels (Holland, Michigan / Holland) and sophomore Liam Danitz (West Branch, Michigan / Ogemaw Heights) raced to a runner-up time of 41.32 seconds.

The relay passed the 2016 Hope record of 41.33 held by Dion Goliday, Justin Freeman, Matt Pelyhes and Boone Marois.

In the 1,500 meters, junior Connor Vachon (Jenison, Michigan / Jenison) recorded a winning time of 3:53.62.

The Flying Dutchmen's 4x400 relay of Daniels, Danitz, junior Joshua Ennen (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland West) and Woolum clocked a first-place and season-best run of 3:18.48.

Hope totaled 127 points to finish six points ahead of runner-up University of Chicago.

On Friday, a group of Flying Dutchmen distance runners competed at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Invitational. Sophomore Ian Petruska (Fort Collins, Colorado) topped Hope in the 5,000 meters with a 47th-place time of 14:46.54.

At Wheaton, Hope's 4x100 relay finished second only to the College of Dupage (Ill.)'s time of 41.13.

Vachon led three Flying Dutchmen runners who earned points in the 1,500. Senior Dan Campbell (Brighton, Michigan / Brighton) finished third at 3:58.12. Sophomore Carston Cole (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) was eighth at 4:01.56.

Hope posted runner-up efforts in five more events.

In the javelin, junior Aidan Kyle (Weston, Connecticut / Weston) topped three scoring Hope throwers with a second-place toss of 50.70 meters (166 feet, 4 inches). Freshman Matthew Bir (Wenatchee, Washington / River Academy) took third at 48.0 meters (157-6). Daniels was fifth at 47.12 meters (154-7).

In the 800 meters, Vachon raced to a runner-up time of 1:55.63. Sophomore Erickson Kunzler (Marne, Michigan / Catholic Central) finished third at 1:56.49. Cole was sixth at 1:58.57.

In the 400 meters, Daniels placed second at 49.72 seconds. Senior Eli Meder (Williamston, Michigan / Lansing Catholic) took third at 50.0. Freshman Dylan Terpstra (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) was eighth at 50.51.

In the 400 hurdles, Woolum clocked a runner-up time of 54.54 seconds. Ennen was fourth at 57.18.

In the 100 meters, Sanders sprinted to a second-place run of 10.76 seconds. Danitz was eighth at 10.91.

In the 200 meters, Sanders finished fourth at 21.99 seconds. Danitz was sixth at 22.20.

In the shot put, sophomore Caleb Paarlberg (Alto, Michigan / Caledonia) placed sixth with a toss of 13.86 meters (45-5 ¾).

In the 110 hurdles, senior Jackson Player (San Antonio, Texas / Winston Churchill) recorded a seventh-place time of 15.80 seconds. Woolum was eighth at 15.95.

Hope's next meet is Friday-Saturday, April 19-20, at the Grand Valley State University Al Owens Classic.

Print Friendly Version