Men's Track and Field Races to School-Record 4x400 Relay at GVSU Big Meet

Sophomore Dylan Terpstra, senior Alex Daniels, senior Joshua Ennen and junior Liam Danitz deliver on the track

The Hope College men's indoor track and field team posted two of NCAA Division III's fastest relays and one school record during the Grand Valley State University Big Meet this weekend.

On Saturday, the Flying Dutchmen clocked the ninth-fastest distance medley relay in the nation and the 11th-fastest and school-record run 4x400 relay during the non-scoring meet.

In the 4x400 relay, sophomore Dylan Terpstra (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville HS), senior Alex Daniels (Holland, Michigan / Holland), senior Joshua Ennen (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland West) and junior Liam Danitz (West Branch, Michigan / Ogemaw Heights) went a school-record 3:19.97 and finished second out of 15 relays.

The relay passed the 2024 Hope record of 3:20.99 run by Daniels, Danitz, Eli Meder and Nathan Woolum.

In the distance medley relay, senior Erickson Kunzler (Marne, Michigan / Catholic Central HS), freshman Kevin Barifagok (Las Vegas, Nevada / Cristo Rey Saint Viator), senior Lucas Guidone (Chicago, Illinois / Taft) and senior Connor Vachon (Jenison, Michigan / Jenison) crossed the finish line in 13th place at 10 minutes, 4.23 seconds.

In the 3,000 meters, freshman Elias Kretchmar (Granville, Ohio / Granville) took third on Saturday with a run of 8:26.43.

On Friday, Danitz finished fifth out of 63 runners in the 200 meters by recording a non-converted run of 21.59 seconds, just off his school record.

In the 200 meters, Hope put four more runners in the Top 10: senior David McNiff (Norton Shores, Michigan / Mona Shores) in 12th at 22.89, Terpstra in 13th at 22.90, Daniels in 14th at 22.94, and junior Vamsee Vemana (Canton, Michigan / Plymouth) in 20th at 23.18.

The Flying Dutchmen finished in the Top 20 in four more events.

In the 800 meters, junior Carter Dean (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West) placed 13th at 1:56.79. Barifagok was 18th at 1:57.59.

In the 1-mile run, Guidone finished 15th at a season-best 4:21.44. Sophomore Tim Peterson (Portage, Michigan / Portage Northern) was 17th at 4:21.94.

In the 800 meters, McNiff took 18th at 50.86.

In the long jump, senior Derik Smith (Niles, Michigan / Edwardsburg) placed 20th with a leap of 6.05 meters (19 feet, 10 ¼ inches).

Hope returns to compete at GVSU's Tune-Up on Friday, Feb. 21, at 1 p.m. It is the Flying Dutchmen's final meet before the MIAA Indoor Championships on Saturday, March 1, at Trine University.

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