By Harrison LaLone, Sports Information student assistant
Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Alma College track and field team wrapped up competition at the Calvin College Tune-Up on Saturday (April 28).
Senior Chelse Van Spronsen (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) and sophomore Luke Reed (Benzonia, Mich/Benzie Central) each returned to Alma with an event victory.
The women's team finished fifth of 10 teams, the men's team finished sixth.
What Happened
- Van Spronsen claimed victory in the 3000-meter run with a time of 11:06.94.
- Reed took the 3000-meter steeplechase for the Scots in 10:29.56.
- Sophomore Payton Hirschenberger (Freeland, Mich./Saginaw Nouvel) placed second in the triple jump at 12.77 meters and fourth in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 6.50 meters.
- Freshman Grace Hearth (Freeland, Mich./Valley Lutheran) set new personal-best perforances in both the 100 and 200-meter dash events. Hearth finished third in the 200-meter and fourth in the 100-meter.
- Sophomore John Mitrzyk (Standish, Mich./Standish-Sterling) finished in 11.42 seconds for fourth in the 100-meter dash and fifth in the long jump with a jump of 6.42 meters.
- Junior Erin Goggins (Hastings, Mich./Hastings) placed fourth in the pole vault at 3.20 meters.
- Sophomore Jacob Wildenhaus (Jackson, Mich./Lumen Christi) took fourth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.15 seconds.
- Freshmen Hunter Chovanec (St. Louis, Mich./Breckenridge) and Stephanie Davis (Elmira, Mich./Gaylord) claimed top five performances for Alma. Chovanec claimed fourth in the 3000-meter run while Davis took fifth in the 100-meter hurdles. Chovanec's performance led all MIAA participants in the event. Davis' time of 17.35 seconds set a new personal-best performance.
Notables - The Hillsdale Decathlon
Junior Kyle Kraus (Middleville, Mich./Thornapple-Kellogg) made a separate trip to Hillsdale College for the 52nd Annual Gina Relays to compete in the decathlon. Kraus came in fourth after competing in the ten events, setting new personal-bests in four events: 100-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles, shot put, and discus. Kraus finished seventh in the decathlon at Hillsdale last year.
They Said It
"The weather was a factor again today, but we aimed to work on some things for next week's championships. The coaches feel this team is ready for some breakout performances given the scope of the meet next week." - Head Coach Matt Chovanec
On Kraus: "He had a great performance overall in the decathlon. I am very pleased with how he recovered from his high jump performance. He could've very easily quit and gone home."
Up Next
The Alma College track and field team will travel to Adrian College, the host site for this year's MIAA Outdoor Championships. Preliminary competition begins on Thursday (May 3) at 1 p.m., with competition concluding on Friday.
