This past Friday, the men’s and the women’s track and field teams took the MIAA Conference title. For the men, this was their 27th title win in the last 29 conference meets.

The women claimed their 26th consecutive conference title. Through the rain and the sunshine, the team ran, jumped and threw their way to victory.

The Calvin track and field team holds quite a few stars in their midst.

Ben De Waal Malefyt, McKenzie Diemer and Sarah Danner are all officially going to the National meet, and Ethan Anderson, Lauren Strohben, Steven Haagsma and Erik Holsteg are all on the verge of qualifying. However, the individual sport of track and field could not be more of a team event.

De Waal Malefyt, super senior and current discus thrower, is heading to Nationals this Memorial Day to finish off his last season on the Calvin track and field team.

“This season has been really special because it is my last,” said De Waal Malefyt, “and it has helped me really appreciate athletics and the work needed to succeed both in my event and getting to know my team.”

Currently in his fourth year on the Calvin men’s track and field team, De Waal Malefyt reflects on his last few years on the team.

Although any defeat against Hope College sticks out in the minds of the Knights, the memory he will never forget is the time Calvin’s 4×400 relay runner passed Hope’s All-American runner in his final lap.

The men’s team was so excited that they stormed the field. De Waal Malefyt describes this experience as “incredible,”

Junior Stacie Mead broke the 2004 women’s hammer throw record at Friday’s meet. In addition to hammer throw, Mead competes in shot put and discus. Describing this season as inspiring, Mead attributes her team’s success to their impressive freshmen and their intense veterans.

Although Mead has her senior season left on the track and field team, she says her favorite memory so far was two years ago at the conference meet, hosted by Hope College.

“The weather switched quickly from a light mist to a full on downpour,” said Mead. “Every team ran for their tents, but our team ran out into the rain and cheered on the race almost like no one noticed it pouring.”

Sophomore Carissa Weis competed in the triple jump, long jump and javelin at the meets on Thursday and Friday.

While beating her personal records for javelin and triple jump this season, she also contributed immensely to the team as a whole. The highlight of the meet for Weis was seeing the Calvin girls sweep the triple jump.

“This group of girls makes up a truly special team and every experience with them is so rewarding,” said Weis. “Everyone is so supporting and encouraging, which can be hard to do since track is such an individualized sport.”

This Memorial Day, May 21-23, Calvin’s finalists will be attending the National Meet at the University of Saint Lawrence in Canton, New York.