Jaidyn Klimp Captures MIAA Pentathlon Title

Hope College freshman Jaidyn Klimp determination and talent propelled her to a breakthrough moment for the Hope College women's track and field team.

Klimp (Galesburg, Michigan / Galesburg Augusta) became the Flying Dutch's first MIAA champion in the indoor pentathlon on Tuesday at Alma College, topping a field of 15 entrants by finishing the two-day event with 3,317 points.

Klimp scored 10 points over five events for the Flying Dutch, which will count in the standings when the MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, presented by Collegiate Credit Union, resume on Friday-Saturday, Feb. 27-28, at Trine University.

Head coach Jordan Bartolazzi said Klimp excelled following a challenging first event.

"I'm so proud of Jaidyn. It's an incredible accomplishment to win the MIAA Championship as a freshman, competing in her first full pentathlon ever," Bartolazzi said. "But I'm even more proud of the way she handled herself and showed so much composure throughout the day. The first event - the 60-meter hurdles - went very poorly. It was actually her worst hurdle race of the whole season. Rather than allow it to derail her day, she showed remarkable maturity and battled her way back… ultimately ending up with an incredible 3,317 points.

"Jaidyn's a tremendous athlete with a world of potential, and I'm thrilled to see her continue to grow."

This is the second year the MIAA has fielded a pentathlon competition for women and a heptathlon for the men. Senior Lauren Nemens (Sterling Heights, Michigan / Adlai E. Stevenson) took 10th with 2,373 points.

Klimp opened the pentathlon with a fourth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles in 9.61 seconds. Nemes followed with a 12th-place finish in 11.07 seconds.

Klimp then delivered a runner-up performance in the high jump by clearing 1.55 meters (5 feet, 1 inch). Nemens added a seventh-place clearance of 1.43 meters (4-8.25).

In the shot put, Klimp recorded another runner-up finish with a throw of 10.34 meters (33-11.25). Nemens posted a mark of 6.74 meters (22-1.5).

Klimp continued her strong showing in the long jump, placing third with a leap of 5.01 meters (16-5.25), while Nemens recorded a jump of 4.27 meters (14-0.25).

Klimp secured the conference championship with a runner-up finish in the 800 meters in 2:26.42. Nemens added a fourth-place finish in 2:36.41.

The Flying Dutch will compete next at the GVSU Tune-Up on Friday, Feb. 20, at 1 p.m. in Allendale, Michigan.

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Players Mentioned

Lauren Nemens: Senior; Biology

Jaidyn Klimp: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Lauren Nemens
: Senior; Biology

Jaidyn Klimp
: Freshman