2008 Spartan Classic Goes Well For Grace

Manchester, Ind.-After starting in the rain, the weather at the Spartan Classic cleared enough to allow for some top level performances by the Grace Lancers. The early jumps, sprints and throws were competed in the rain with high places in all events. Kiera Gray won the high jump, place 3'rd in the long jump and 4'th in the triple jump. In the 100 Joscelyn Buford out leaned her teammate Kirah Fifield for a 1-2 Grace finish. Buford also place 3'rd in the 200 and Fifield was 2'nd in the 100h.

In the throws, Tara Drew slipped and slide to a 4'th place finish in the javelin and a 5'th in the discus. The weather cleared for the shot put and hammer with Rebekah Lambright placing 2'nd in the shot put and 4'th in the hammer. In one of the most incredible improvements I have witnessed, Samantha Bergsma almost doubled her PR in the hammer to finish 5'th and qualify for Christian Nationals.

In the distance events Heather Vaughn, running her first 1500 ever, placed 4'th. Kristin Hawkins PR'ed in the 5000 while finishing 2'nd. The race of the meet went to MariJean Wegert who broke the school record in the 800 by almost 5 seconds with a winning time of 2:19.41. Her time is less than 1 ½ seconds from qualifying for NAIA Nationals.

In the relays the women ran season best times in the 4x100, placing 2'nd and the 4x400, placing 3'rd.

The conference meet will be held at Goshen College April 25-26. Running and field events start Friday at 3:30 p.m. On Saturday field events start at 2 p.m.; running events at 2:30 p.m.

Women Results

100
Joscelyn Buford 1'st 13.44
Kirah Fifield 2'nd 13.45
Jenna Freeman 6'th 14.67
Erica Bare 7'th 14.69

200
Joscelyn Buford 3'rd 27.86
Jenna Freeman 9'th 29. 53
Erica Bare 12'th 29.75

400
Ashlea Gramstroff 8'th 1:15.63
Sheilaugh Beauparlant 10'th 1:18.71

800
MariJean Wegert 1'st 2:19.41 School Record, PR
Ashley Thomas 5'th 2:32.40

1500
Heather Vaughn 4'th 5:24.36
Mary MacLeod 6'th 5:57.72
Jenifer Neuenshwander 7'th 6:18.00

5000
Kristin Hawkins 2'nd 19:16.73 PR

100h
Kirah Fifield 2'nd 16.47

400h
Tara Drew 3'rd 1:12.60

4x100
Fifield, Drew, Freeman, Buford 2'nd 53.04

4x400
Vaughn, Drew, Thomas, Wegert 3'rd 4:26.34

High Jump
Kiera Gray 1'st 5'0"

Long Jump
Kiera Gray 3'rd 15'5"

Triple Jump
Kiera Gray 4'th 30'5 3/4 "

Shot Put
Rebekah Lambright 2'nd 37'3"

Discus
Tara Drew 5'th 101'6"
Caryn Britton 10'th 93'11"

Javelin
Tara Drew 4'th 87'0"

Hammer
Rebekah Lambright 4'th 124' 2"
Samantha Bergsma 5'th 118' 7" NCCAA, PR
Caryn Britton 16'th 88' 0"