Sprinter Sara Schermerhorn Makes History at MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships

The junior becomes the first runner to win the 60, 200 and 400 meters at the same meet

Sara Schermerhorn barely could revel in a meet-record, title-repeating 400-meter run at the MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships when she needed to step on the track again.

With only a few minutes to rest, the Hope College junior quickly sprinted to another MIAA title, winning the 60-meter dash and setting herself up for a historic day on Saturday at Trine University.

Schermerhorn (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West HS) became the first MIAA runner to earn league titles in the 60, 200 and 400 meters at the same meet.

The exercise science major capped off a sensational performance by anchoring the Flying Dutch's first-place 4x400 relay.

"It's pretty amazing," head coach Kevin Cole said. "Probably the toughest run was the 60 finals. It was eight minutes after she ran a 400. Anyone who's run a 400 knows you can't do anything afterward. She came back and won the 60. Sara just has that drive. She wants to be in everything she can. She wants to win everything she can."

Hope claimed six gold medals at the MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships and took third at the seven-team meet with 142.5 points.

Junior Molly Durow (Glenview, Illinois / Glenbrook South) also finished as a multi-event winner for the Flying Dutch.

Durow won the 800 meters and led off the first-place distance medley relay.

"Molly has been looking better over the past few weeks," Cole said. "It's a tough conference in the 800. To win like that is impressive."

Durow topped the 800 field by clocking a time of 2 minutes, 22.24 seconds. Sophomore Amanda Markham (Hoffman Estates, Illinois / William Fremd) placed third at 2:23.70.

In the distance medley relay, Durow teamed with Markham, freshman Lily Sackrider (St. Johns, Michigan / St. Johns) and senior Maddy Struck (Hainesville, Illinois / Grayslake Central) for a first-place run of 12:59.66 in the meet's first race.

Schermerhorn repeated as MIAA champion in the 400 meters and led a 1-2-3 Hope finish. Schermerhorn clocked an MIAA-record run of 58.27 seconds, topping her previous league-best 58.49.

Junior Catherine Leahy (Elk Rapids, Michigan / Elk Rapids) finished runner-up at 58.74. Junior Frances Cozzens (Lyman, New Hampshire / Saint Johnsbury Academy) took third at 1:00.59.

In the 60 meters, Schermerhorn claimed her second gold medal in three years in the event by crossing the finish line in 7.77 seconds in the final. Schermerhorn was the third-fastest qualifier at 7.89 seconds.

Two more Hope runners scored in the 60. Freshman Sofia Fisher (Lombard, Illinois / Montini Catholic) placed fourth at 7.99. Junior Ava Schmidt (Saline, Michigan / Saline) took fifth at 8.07.

"I tried to put in my mind that everyone's tired, it's not just me, and just turned on my competitive mode. Just battled out there," Schermerhorn said of the quick turnaround between the 400 and 60 finals.

After a little longer rest, Schermerhorn delivered the MIAA's second three-peat in the 200 by clocking a winning 24.82 and topping her league record from last season of 24.91. Schermerhorn also matched Albion College three-time champion Layla Wilks (2018-20).

In the meet's final race, Schermerhorn anchored the first-place 4x400 relay, teaming with Leahy, Cozzens and Fisher for a run of 4:04.06.

"The whole day I was looking forward to the 4x400. The energy of that race is so amazing," Schermerhorn said. "My goal was to do the speed I can. I'm really proud. We had so many sprint PRs today."

Hope medaled in two more events: shot put and 5,000 meters.

In the shot put, senior Greta Robrahn (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East) recorded a silver-medal and season-best throw of 12.64 meters (41 feet, 5 ¾ inches). Albion's Tess Anthony went 13.12 meters (43-0 ½) on her final throw.

Junior Karly Roelofs (Kingsley, Michigan / Kingsley Area) also scored in the event, placing seventh with a toss of 10.76 meters (35-¾).

In the 5,000 meters, Struck clocked a bronze-medal effort of 18:34.06. Junior Alexis Deighan (Birmingham, Michigan / Seaholm) finished sixth at 18:54.05.

The Flying Dutch scored in five more events.

In the pole vault, sophomore Abigail Cumings (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Central) cleared 3.01 meters (9-10 ½) for third place. Sophomore Natalie Bennett (Bruce Township, Michigan / Romeo) tied for fifth at 2.91 meters (9-6 ½).

In the triple jump, junior Elliana Johnson (East Lansing, Michigan / Haslett) placed sixth, leaping 10.27 meters (33-8 ½).

In the 1-mile run, freshman Maddie VandeBunte (Jenison, Michigan / Jenison) finished sixth at 5:14.66. Sophomore Mary England (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Kalamazoo Central) took seventh at 5:16.92.

In the 3,000 meters, England recorded a sixth-place run of 10:45.29. VandeBunte was eighth at 10:50.23.

In the high jump, senior Allison Schram (Fenton, Michigan / Hartland) placed seventh after clearing 1.59 meters (4-10 ½).

Calvin University won the meet with 190 points, 35.5 more than runner-up Trine. After Hope, Albion took fourth with 48 points and was followed by The University of Olivet (37), Adrian College (54) and Alma College (23).

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