Women's Track and Field Claims Sixth MIAA Outdoor Title in a Row

Hope has won earned 11 MIAA outdoor and indoor titles since 2018.

Rain or shine, the Hope College women's track and field team is delivering MIAA titles these days.

The Flying Dutch excelled through a both wet and sunny Friday to finish the 2024 MIAA Outdoor Championships with a two-day total of 240 points that earned a sixth consecutive league championship.

Hope matched last season's point total to score 62 more points than runner-up Trine University in the two-day, seven-team meet hosted by Calvin University at Gainey Athletic Complex.

The Flying Dutch have earned 11 MIAA outdoor and indoor titles since 2018.

Head coach Kevin Cole was proud of his team's performance over a long two days. On Friday, it rained for two hours before the skies cleared and were sunny for the remainder of the meet.

"Some of them did a lot of events and were exhausted by the end of it, but they pushed through and did everything they were supposed to do," Cole said. "We ended up winning by a bunch that I hoped to. They just proved they're a strong, resilient team."

The MIAA outdoor title run is the longest in team history. The Flying Dutch now have been outdoor league champions 10 times.

"Every year it seems like we've got some seniors there's no way we're going to find a way to replace them. Then, the next year, people just step up," Cole said. "The 4x100 relay, we lost two incredible sprinters, two people stepped in there at about the same speed. The 4x400 relay, we're just as fast. People step up in different places.

"I think they see that opening happen in front of them, and they step into it. They're working hard and getting better every year. That's what you count on as a coach."

On Friday, Hope took first in four events to give the Flying Dutch six titles for the meet.

The Flying Dutch dominated the 400 meters, clocking three of the four fastest times.

Sophomore Sara Schermerhorn (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West HS) claimed her first MIAA title in the event by recording a winning time of 58.07 seconds.

Sophomore Catherine Leahy (Elk Rapids, Michigan / Elk Rapids) finished runner-up at 58.74 seconds. Junior Jasmine Zimmerman (Byron Center, Michigan / Home School) took fourth at 1:00.51.

Hope also ran the fastest in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

In the 4x100 relay, sophomore Ava Schmidt (Saline, Michigan / Saline), Zimmerman, Leahy, Zimmerman and Schermerhorn clocked a season-best time of 48.18 seconds.

In the 4x400 relay, the Flying Dutch closed the meet triumphantly as Leahy, senior Erin Moran (Arlington Heights, Illinois / John Hersey), Zimmerman and Schermerhorn won by eight seconds with a time of 3:57.40.

In the javelin, junior Amanda Timonen (Palatine, Illinois / William Fremd) led a 1-2 Hope finish with a PR throw of 38.07 meters (124 feet, 11 inches).

Senior Libby Strotman (Park Ridge, Illinois / Maine Township), the 2023 MIAA champion in the event, placed runner-up after a PR toss of 37.84 meters (124-02). Senior Lauren Tocco (Traverse City, Michigan / Saint Francis) took fifth at 32.15 meters (105-6).

Hope placed second in five more events.

In the 100 meters, Schermerhorn eclipsed Hope's Nora Kuiper's 2003 MIAA record of 12.10 seconds, but Schermerhorn finished runner-up at 11.86 seconds. Albion College's Campbell went 11.77. Schermerhorn came within 0.02 of Kuiper's 2009 Hope record. Schmidt was seventh at 12.69 seconds.

In the 200 meters, Schermerhorn also ran faster than Calvin's Susan Abbring's 2003 MIAA record of 24.52 but took second with a time of 24.16 seconds. Campbell edged her there as well at 24.09. Leahy placed fifth at 26.10. Zimmerman was eighth at 26.53.

In the 1,500 meters, Hope posted three of the fastest six times, including runner-up and senior Rebecca Markham (Hoffman Estates, Illinois / William Fremd), who posted a PR run of 4:35.11. Senior Olivia Quillan (Grandville, Michigan / Calvin Christian) finished third at 4:38.61. Sophomore Madison Stern (Saline, Michigan / Saline) took sixth at 4:57.43.

In the 800 meters, freshman Amanda Markham (Hoffman Estates, Illinois / William Fremd) finished runner-up after recording a PR time of 2:16.99. Quillan placed fourth at 2:19.63. Stern was seventh at 2:30.90.

In the discus, sophomore Kamryn Bice (Monroe, Michigan / Monroe) posted a runner-up finish with a throw of 36.28 meters (119-0). Freshman Olivia Smith (Cadillac, Michigan / Cadillac) took fifth at 33.87 meters (111-01).

Hope scored in four more events.

In the 5,000 meters, junior Maddy Struck (Hainesville, Illinois / Grayslake Central) clocked a third-place run of 18:02.33. Freshman Mary England (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Kalamazoo Central) finished fourth with a PR of 18:17.47.

In the triple jump, sophomore Elliana Johnson (East Lansing, Michigan / Haslett) placed third with a leap of 10.57 meters (34-8 ½).

In the 400-meter hurdles, sophomore Molly Durow (Glenview, Illinois / Glenbrook South) recorded a fourth-place and PR time of 1:07.84. Johnson took fifth with a PR of 1:06.66.

In the high jump, sophomore Natalie Christnagel (Grosse Ile, Michigan / Grosse Ile) placed fourth after clearing 1.57 meters (5-1 ¾). Junior Allison Schram (Fenton, Michigan / Hartland) took fifth at the same height.

Calvin placed third with 126 points and was followed by Albion College (84), The University of Olivet (68), Alma College (44) and Adrian College (34).

Print Friendly Version