1-2 Steeplechase Finish Propels Women's Track and Field in Outdoor Season Debut

With a big boost from five steeplechase runners, the Hope College women's track and field team began the outdoor season with an eighth-place finish at the 30-team Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge.

The Flying Dutch scored 49 points while competing against teams from all three NCAA divisions during the two-day meet on Friday and Saturday in South Carolina.

In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, senior Maddy Struck (Hainesville, Illinois / Grayslake Central HS) and sophomore Annika Sytsma (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Kalamazoo Christian) went 1-2 with runs of 11 minutes, 24.33 seconds and 11:44.26.

Three more steeplechase runners finished in the Top 10 of the 17-runner field, including two who scored: freshman Tessa Rindfliesch (Zeeland, Michigan / West Ottawa) in fifth at 12:04.50 and senior Laura Taylor (Yorkville, Illinois / Yorkville) in eighth at 12:28.30. Freshman Erin Stuk (Pinckney, Michigan / Father Gabriel Richard) was ninth at 12:57.36.

In the 800-meter collegiate Division, junior Molly Durow (Glenview, Illinois / Glenbrook South) finished eighth with a PR run of 2:19.46. Sophomore Amanda Markham (Hoffman Estates, Illinois / William Fremd) placed third at 2:21.28.

In the open 800, freshman Lily Sackrider (St. Johns, Michigan / St. Johns) took ninth at 2:30.06.

In the pole vault B flight, sophomore Abigail Cumings (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central) placed fourth after clearing 3.0 meters (9-10). Sophomore Natalie Bennett (Bruce Township, Michigan / Romeo) was ninth at 2.85 meters (9-4 ¼).

In the 400, junior Catherine Leahy (Elk Rapids, Michigan / Elk Rapids) clocked a fifth-place, PR time of 56.59.

In the high jump B flight, sophomore Bridget Crombie (Lansing, Michigan / Home School) finished fifth after clearing 1.5 meters (4-11).

In the 4x400 relay, Leahy, Markham, Durow and junior Frances Cozzens (Lyman, New Hampshire / Saint Johnsbury Academy) posted a sixth-place run of 4:09.82.

In the 4x800 relay, Stuck, junior Emma DeJoy (Pittsford, New York / Our Lady of Mercy), sophomore Elise Ferguson (Grandville, Michigan / Grandville) and sophomore Elise Bodary (New Boston, Michigan / Father Gabriel Richard) took sixth at 10:39.89.

In the 4x100 relay, Hope finished eighth behind an eighth-place :49.32 from junior Ava Schmidt (Saline, Michigan / Saline), Leahy, freshman Sofia Fisher (Elk Rapids, Michigan / Elk Rapids) and freshman Lydia Rowe (Livonia, Michigan / Adlai E. Stevenson).

In the 200, Leahy placed ninth with a PR 25.60.

In the 10,000 meters, junior Claire Vellinga (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) posted a ninth-place 41:37.63.

In the 1,500, freshman Maddie VandeBunte (Jenison, Michigan / Jenison) took 10th at 4:55.26.

The Flying Dutch's next meet is on Friday-Saturday, March 21-22, at Emory University (Georgia).

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