Track & Field
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2008  Season Outlook

The 2008 track and field team will feature seven school-record holders among the nine returning athletes, plus a large group of 17 newcomers.
 
“It’s always a good thing to have quality performers return each year, as their experience and leadership are vital to the entire team,” said Coach Jeff Raymond. “We are also pleased to have such a large group of incoming athletes who we expect to make a significant impact on our program.”
 
The women’s squad will be very young this season, with the majority of athletes being first or second year competitors. However, there will be quality performers in virtually every event, giving the Trolls a well-rounded team.
 
The sprint, hurdle, and jump events will be anchored by sophomores Emily Buter (Grand Rapids, MI) and Katie Vander Ark (Grand Rapids, MI). Buter became Trinity’s first-ever NAIA national qualifier last season when she competed in the 400 meter hurdles, setting a school mark of 1:04.84. She also was a vital contributor to several relays. Vander Ark qualified for the NCCAA Championships in all three jumping events, and established school records of 5’2 ¼“ in the high jump and 16’5” in the long jump.
 
Those two will by joined by newcomers Rachel Garner (Waukee, IA), Christine Iwema (Oak Lawn, IL), Alessandra Ledbetter (Chicago, IL), Danielle Swenson (Milaca, MN), and Melissa Voss (Orland Park, IL). Iwema and Voss were each part of state qualifying relays at Chicago Christian High School, while Voss also qualified for state individually in the 400 meter. Garner will be a strong performer in the 200 and 400 meters and Ledbetter will compete in the 100 and 200 meters. Swenson will join Buter in the 400 meter hurdles and also compete in the triple jump.
 
The middle distance and distance crew will be paced by sophomores Laura Simpson (Bloomington, IL) and Jennifer Ten Kate (Wyoming, MI), who will run the 800 and 1500 meters. Ten Kate was part of the school-record setting 4 x 400 meter relay squad last spring. Another returner is junior Korynn Scheeringa (Griffith, IN), who performed primarily in the throwing events for the past two years, but after a success cross country season will join the distance runners.
 
Supporting them will be senior Erin Zielke (Bristol, IL), sophomore Allison DeGroot (Byron Center, MI), and freshmen Jessica Jager (Grand Rapids, MI) and Jessica Huisenga (Orland Hills, IL). Jager, ran only one year of high school track, but was on a state championship cross country team and was the top runner for the Troll cross country team in the fall.
 
Sophomore Ashley Biesboer (Broadview, IL) will handle the throwing events. She set a school record in the javelin last season at 100’6”, and also ranks in the top five all-time in the shot put and discus. Scheeringa will provide depth during the outdoor season in the javelin and discus.
 
The men’s team will be dominated by athletes new to the program, but three returners will be vital to the team’s success. A group of eight newcomers is expected to fill some holes and provide strength in areas where the Trolls have been lacking in the past.
 
Senior Josh Seegert (Petersburg, MI), junior Andy Jellema (Dyer, IN), and sophomore Joseph Lerner (Oak Lawn, IL) all return in the middle distance events. Seegert, the veteran of the squad was part of the school-record setting 4 x 800 meter relay last season and is also strong in the 400 meters. Jellema established numerous school records last season, including times of 3:58.42 in the 1500 meter and 15:38.13 in the 5000 meter. He placed fourth in the 1500 at the NCCAA Championships. Lerner improved drastically throughout last season, running a time of 2:03.73 in the 800 meter and earning a spot on the 4 x 800 relay team.
 
Adding depth to the middle distance and distance events will be junior transfer Bolaji Adeoti (Aurora, IL), junior Ethan Vervelde (Cedar Grove, WI), and freshmen Scott Hankes (Chicago Ridge, IL) and David Hoekstra (Lansing, IL). Adeoti was a strong performer in the 800 meter at Waubonsee Community College and is coming off a solid cross country season for the Trolls. Hankes fought through an injury during the cross country season, but hopes to get back to full strength this spring and contribute in the distance events. Vervelde and Hoekstra will be getting their first taste of college competition.
 
A pair of freshmen hopes to make an impact in the sprints, hurdles and jumps. Bobby Bennet (Monticello, WI) gives Trinity a solid performer in both the 110 meter and 400 meter hurdles. He placed in the two hurdle events in his high school regional championships and has a best time of 15.50 in the 110 hurdles. Tony Patrick (Winnebago, IL) will compete in the short sprints and the long jump.
 
A new strength this year will be in the throwing events. Sophomore transfer Tyler Kallemeyn (Palos Park, IL) and freshman Ryker Van Drunen (Lansing, IL) will form a strong duo for Trinity. Kallemeyn has a year of experience in all the throwing events at College of DuPage and will be especially strong in the javelin. Van Drunen’s specialty is the discus, where he was a state qualifier for Illiana Christian High School with a best throw of 152’11”.
 
“Our program continues to grow and improve each year, so we are looking forward to seeing what this group can accomplish,” said Raymond. “Most importantly, I believe we have a solid group of student-athletes who will be great representatives for Trinity.”
 
The season gets underway with a series of indoor meets, including the Chicagoland Championships and the NCCAA Indoor Championships. The outdoor season includes new meets at Wabash College (IN) and Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, plus four invitationals in the Chicago area. The NCCAA Outdoor Championships will be hosted at Indiana Wesleyan University in May.