Spring Arbor, MI – The Grace Christian University track & field teams traveled to Spring Arbor University this past weekend to take part in the Bill Bippes Cougar Classic and found numerous new personal best marks. Although the early events were greeted with rain showers, the afternoon revealed dry skies with seasonably comfortable temperatures, which provided great conditions for the remaining events.
Grace faced off against host Spring Arbor, as well as Alma, Aquinas, Concordia, Cleary, Northwood, Siena Heights, and SW Michigan Community College. Grace head coach Gerry Verwey was pleased with the efforts on Friday but said there is still a lot of work to be done. “We competed well and the fight that we expected from our athletes was definitely there. We have to work on the small things though to get better,” said Coach Verwey after the meet. “What we do before our events matters just as much as the competition itself and there are a number of things with mechanics we need to work on in all events too. If we clean these things up, then look out,” added Verwey.
Men’s Highlights:
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Freshman Devin Bartee (Muskegon, MI) set a personal record in the 100m dash (13.11) and men’s long jump competitions (5.07m).
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Junior Kent Herring (Evart, MI) also set a new personal record in long jump. His effort of 5.32m secures him with the second farthest jump in school history. As Herring prepares for the decathlon later this season, he also competed in the 800m run and discus events, where he set another new personal record in discus (22.20m)
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Junior Angel Becerra (Allendale, MI) made his debut in men’s javelin and set a new personal best mark of 21.76m.
Women’s Highlights:
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Freshman Makensie Mondy (Kentwood, MI) ran to a lifetime personal best time in the 100m dash (14.01), placing 6th overall in the meet and securing the third fastest time in school history. She also set a new personal record in the 200m dash (29.04), which is the fourth fastest time in school history.
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Senior Lucy Nusbaum (Holland, MI) broke her personal record in the 400m dash, finishing in a time of 1:13.33, which earned her the fourth fastest time in school history.
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Sophomore Alyssa Gennety (Jackson, MI) had another big day on the track, setting new personal collegiate records in both the 800m and 1500m events. Gennety’s time of 2:51.84 in the 800m means she has run the third fastest time in school history for that event. Her 5:51.27 in the 1500m is the fifth fastest time for Grace.
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Senior Jada Reese (Macomb, MI) had a big day in shot put and discus (as well as running a leg in the 400m relay). Her shot put toss of 8.70m is the second further toss in school history and placed her 17th out of 24 contestants in the meet. Her throw of 25.23m in discus places her third all-time for Grace, as well.
Next up for the track & field teams is a meet at Manchester University in Terre Haute, IN on Saturday, April 8. Throwing events kick-off at 11 AM, with running events starting at 1 PM
