Lynne Powe

Pictured, from left, Sara Schermerhorn, Savana Monville, Frances Cozzens and Jaidyn Klimp

Women's Track and Field 5/2/2026 9:30:00 AM Brett Showers '26

Women's Track and Field Wins Three More Gold Medals, Takes Second at MIAA Outdoor Championships

Hope hosted the two-day meet at Brewer Track

The Hope College Athletics women's track & field team captured multiple conference championships and relay medals while finishing runner-up at the MIAA Outdoor Championships.

The Flying Dutch totaled 234 points to finish second in the team standings behind Calvin University (258). Hope finished ahead of Trine University (151), Albion College (45), Adrian College (41), Alma College (36), The University of Olivet (32), and Kalamazoo College (20).

Hope was powered by gold medals in the 400 meters, javelin throw, and the 4x400 relay.

Senior Sara Schermerhorn (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West) led the Flying Dutch with multiple top-three finishes. She became Hope's first three-time outdoor 400-meter champion by clocking a time of 56.39 seconds for 10 points.

Schermerhorn also finished runner-up in the 200 meters in 24.27 seconds, the sixth-fastest time in NCAA Division III this season, and placed third in the 100 meters in 12.07 seconds, a mark that ranks 38th nationally.
Sophomore Sofia Fisher (Lombard, Illinois / Montini Catholic) earned runner-up honors in the 100 meters with a time of 11.96 seconds, recording the 20th-fastest time in NCAA Division III this season. Fisher also added bronze in the 200 meters in 24.69 seconds, another mark that ranks 20th nationally in Division III. Head coach Jordan Bartolazzi praised Fisher's growth throughout the season.

"Sophia Fisher took a massive step forward this year," Bartolazzi said. "She really committed herself to track and field and getting better, and we saw that pay off this weekend."

Freshman Jaidyn Klimp (Galesburg, Michigan / Galesburg Augusta) turned in one of Hope's strongest all-around performances of the meet. Klimp captured the conference championship in the javelin throw with a toss of 35.19 meters (115 feet, 5 inches), placed second in the 400 meters in 58.12 seconds, finished third in the high jump after clearing 1.59 meters (5-2½), and added a sixth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.11 seconds.

Bartolazzi also credited Klimp and Schermerhorn for their willingness to compete in multiple events throughout the meet.

"Jaidyn Klimp and Sara Schermerhorn did everything they could for our team," Bartolazzi said. "The number of events they competed in and the effort they gave all weekend was huge for us."

The Flying Dutch closed the meet with a conference championship in the 4x400 relay for the fourth consecutive season. Klimp, senior Frances Cozzens (Lyman, New Hampshire / Saint Johnsbury Academy), freshman Savana Monville (Auburn, Michigan / Bay City Western), and Schermerhorn combined for a winning time of 3:56.02, a mark that ranks 38th in NCAA Division III this season.

Freshman Savana Monville (Auburn, Michigan / Bay City Western) earned silver in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:04.80, ranking 72nd nationally in NCAA Division III this season. Monville also added a seventh-place finish in the 100 meters.

Sophomore Olivia Ippel (St. Joseph, Michigan / St. Joseph) earned silver in the 5,000 meters in 17:11.84 to score eight points, while junior Mary England (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Kalamazoo Central) added a third-place finish in 17:21.87.

Junior Amanda Markham (Hoffman Estates, Illinois / William Fremd) placed third in the 800 meters in 2:17.27 to score six points, while freshman Miranda Sawvel (Laramie, Wyoming / Centennial) added a sixth-place finish in 2:20.60.

Sophomore Lydia Rowe (Livonia, Michigan / Adlai E. Stevenson) placed fourth in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.04 seconds.

Freshman Eliana Kotsonis (Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin / Hamilton) placed fourth in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:08.85 and seventh in the triple jump at 10.68 meters (35-0½).

In field events, freshman Anna Tilden (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) placed fourth in the discus throw, senior Natalie Christnagel (Glen Ellyn, Illinois / Glenbard West) finished fourth in the high jump, and freshman Kennedy Anderson (Naperville, Illinois / Naperville North) added a seventh-place finish in the same event.

Senior Karly Roelofs (Kingsley, Michigan / Kingsley Area) added a third-place finish in the javelin throw, freshman Riley Gruppen (Zeeland, Michigan / Zeeland East) placed sixth, and senior Meredith Kramer (Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan / Grosse Pointe South) contributed an eighth-place finish in the triple jump.

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