Athletes Soar High In The Classroom

Track Pair Named NCCAA Scholar-Athletes

Two members of the Bethel College women’s track and field team have been recognized as NCCAA All-American Scholar Athletes. Kate Bishop, a junior from DeKalb HS, and Bekah Laman, a junior from Luddington, Michigan HS have both received this distinguished honor.

Bishop qualified for NCCAA Nationals in the 55m hurdles with a time of 9.12, and also qualified in the 200m at 26.48. She is a Psychology major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.756.

Laman qualified for NCCAA Nationals in the pole vault at 10’8” and is an Elementary Education major with a GPA of 3.909.

Pilots Sail Past the Competition at GVSU

Six First-Place Finishes Paces Track Team At GVSU

Meet Summary
Grand Rapids Championships

The Bethel College Track and Field teams competed at the extremely competitive Grand Rapids Championships hosted by Grand Valley State over the week—end. The Pilots came away with six first place finishes during the course of the meet.

Leading the way on the men’s side was Senior sprinter Geoffrey King who was a dual event winner coming away with the 55m at 6.48 and the 200m at 22.30. Junior hurdler Rod Waters won the 55n hurdles with a time of 7.43. Waters time currently places him first in the nation according to the latest NAIA Indoor National rankings. Other top finishes were turned in by Junior Zach Burrington in the pole vault at 16’3”, and Freshmen Jontae Randolph in the 400m at 52.69 and JJ Jackson in the shot put at 46’6”. Runners up for the Pilots included Junior Chris Warhop in the long jump at 22’2”, Senior Chase Bislow in the triple jump at 43’2”, and Freshman Brandon Hooven in the shot put at 43’8”. Warhop also placed third in the 55m at 6.61.

Pacing the women’s squad was Freshman sprinter Jessie Spearman. Spearman placed second in both the 55m at 7.49 and the 200m at 26.87. A pair of Freshmen also earned runner up honors for the Lady Pilots. Caitlyn Gager was second in the pole vault 11’1, and Holly Farrer placed second in the shot put at 40’8”. Farrer also placed third in the weight throw at 34’5”. Other third place finishes were turned in by Junior Kate Bishop in the 200m at 26.99, Sophomore Shelby Morrow in the 800m at 2:27, and Freshman pole vaulter Ann O’Keefe who vaulted 11’1”.
Team & Individual Results

The Bethel College Track program will next compete at NCCAA Indoor Nationals held on Saturday, February 24 at Taylor University. The Pilots have qualified 21 men and 21 women for this national meet.

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Track And Field Fun

Success and Bonding Equal Advancement for the Pilots

Success and competition means a lot to the Bethel Pilot Track teams; but fun and fellowship mean just as much to the advancement of the program. So, here are a handful of pictures that show some of the fun times that the Blue Wave have had so far after a month of successful indoor team meets.

Pilots Continue to Impress At Taylor Indoor

Blue Wave Blow Through the Competition

Team & Individual Results
The Pilot track and field program had a very impressive day at the Taylor University indoor track meet by hitting the NAIA National Indoor mark five times and eclipsing the NCCAA National mark 16 times.

Leading the way for the men’s team were NAIA Indoor National qualifiers Senior Geoffrey King in the 55m at 6.48 and Junior Rod Waters in the 55m hurdles at 7.56. Both athletes won their respective events. NCCAA qualifiers on the men’s side include Junior Chris Warhop in the 55m at 6.67, in the 200m at 23.12, and in the long jump at 22—3. Warhop won the long jump, came in fourth to King in the 55m, and came in third in the 200m. Freshman BJ Austin qualified for NCCAA Nationals in the 55m at 6.82 as did Senior triple jumper Chase Bislow at 43—9, who won the event, and Freshman shot putter JJ Jackson who threw 45—4 which was good enough for fifth place. The other event winner for the Pilots was King in the 200m at 22.66. Third place finishers on the men’s side included Junior Zach Burrington in the pole vault at 15—0, the 4x400m relay team of Waters, Freshmen Jontae Randolph and Brad Wilson, and Sophomore Vincent Reel, and the 4x800m relay team of Randolph, Juniors David Prieb and Andy Gray, and Sophomore Scott Robinson.

Three Lady Pilots hit the NAIA Indoor national qualifying mark. Junior Kate Bishop ran a 26.48 in the 200m and Freshman Jessie Spearman ran a 7.44 in the 55m to qualify on the track, and Freshman Ann O’Keefe also qualified for NAIA Nationals in the pole vault at 11—5. Bishop and Spearman won their events, while O’Keefe’s vault got her second place. NCCAA Nationals qualifiers included O’Keefe in the 55m at 7.82, Spearman in the 200m at 26.84, Bishop in the 55m hurdles at 9.12, Junior Kerri Goodrich in the 400m at 1:03.79, and the 4x400m relay team of Spearman, Bishop, and Sophomores Shelby Morrow and Heather Rathbun at 4:10.04. Spearman was second in the 200m, Bishop was fifth in the 55m hurdles, and the 4x400m relay team finished third in the meet. Other third place finishers for the women were Freshmen Alicia Derr in the weight throw at 36—3 and Caitlyn Gager in the pole vault at 10—6.

The Pilots will next compete at the Goshen Indoor Meet at Goshen College on Friday, February 9.

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