Hope College freshman Jaidyn Klimp recorded a championship performance in the heptathlon during the two-day MIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships this week at Brewer Track.
Klimp (Galesburg, Michigan / Galesburg Augusta) led a 1-2 Hope finish in the two-day event, with teammate Eliana Kotsonis (Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin / Hamilton) placing runner-up.Â
Klimp posted a winning, seven-event total of 4,810 points over Monday and Tuesday. Kotsonis finished second in the field of 13 with 4,028 points.
Head coach Jordan Bartolazzi said Klimp — who also captured the MIAA Indoor Pentathlon crown in February — possesses a veteran mindset despite being in her first year of collegiate competition.Â
"Jaidyn has such a level head as a freshman. She seems like she's unfazed. Her talent level doesn't get ahead of her," Bartolazzi said. "She shows up and takes it seriously. She's so fun to watch and coach. She's good at all seven events. It's hard to find a weakness. Her high jump was the 10th-highest mark in the country."
This was the second year the MIAA has included a multi-event competition as part of the MIAA Outdoor Championships. Hope scored 18 points from two scoring competitors that will count toward the conference meet that will resume on Thursday-Friday, April 30-May 1, at Hope College. Klimp collected 10 points.
Kotsonis earned eight with 4,028 points. The performance was a breakout moment for the freshman, who only recently transitioned to the multi-event format, Bartolazzi said.Â
"Second place is a dream. In my most optimistic version, I did not have her placing second," Bartolazzi said. "It's been a tough outdoor season for her. Three weeks ago, I asked her if she wanted to enter the heptathlon. She's such a great athlete in so many different things I thought it would be possible. For it to come together like that — her first hurdle race was three weeks ago — was incredible. She just had fun and competed."
The 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, and 200 meters were held on Monday; the long jump, javelin, and 800 meters were held on Tuesday.
"It's really great," Klimp said of her latest accomplishment, becoming Hope's first MIAA heptathlon champion. "I've seen my numbers increase this season, and it's nice to see all the practices I went through add up. It's nice to compete and see what I need to work on."
In the 100-meter hurdles, Klimp won in 15.29 seconds to secure 804 points, while Kotsonis followed in fifth place in 16.67 seconds.
In the high jump, Klimp won with a personal-record clearance of 1.67 meters (5 feet, 5.75 inches). Kotsonis followed with a fifth-place finish at 1.49 meters (4 feet, 10.5 inches).
In the shot put, Klimp recorded Hope's top finish by placing third with a throw of 10.73 meters (35 feet, 2.5 inches). Kotsonis followed with a ninth-place toss of 8.76 meters (28 feet, 9 inches).
In the 200 meters, Klimp won in 26.24 seconds to secure 776 points, while Kotsonis placed fifth in 27.50 seconds.
In the long jump, Kotsonis delivered Hope's top finish with a runner-up leap of 5.06 meters (16 feet, 7.25 inches). Klimp followed in fourth place at 4.92 meters (16 feet, 1.75 inches).
In the javelin, Klimp won with a throw of 33.50 meters (109 feet, 11 inches). Kotsonis added a fourth-place finish with a throw of 25.09 meters (82 feet, 3 inches).
In the 800 meters, Klimp won with a personal-record time of 2:25.24. Kotsonis followed in fourth with a time of 2:29.09.
Hope will compete next at the Grand Valley State University Tune-Up on Saturday, April 25.
Â
Â
