Boys' Track and Field Report:   Hans Pruis came up huge for the Eagles at the State Championship and helped lead the team to a 14th-place finish. The senior earned points in four separate events, helping to account for 11 of the team's 16 points.    In the field events, Pruis got off to a great start by leaping 21'0.25", crossing the 21-foot mark for the first time in his life; the jump earned him seventh place.   Pruis then qualified for the finals in both the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. In the 100, he ran a 11.19 in the prelims to qualify with the seventh-fastest time, a seed he improved upon by running an identical 11.19 in the finals, where he earned sixth. In the 200, Pruis ran a personal-best of 22.48 to make the finals with the 8th-fastest time, a seed he held in the finals.   Pruis also teamed up with Jaden Overvoorde, Ja'Martae Hogan, and Gregory Richardson for a sterling race in the 4x100-meter relay. With crisp exchanges and strong legs by each participant, the team shattered their season's best to earn fourth in 43.25.   The 4x800-meter relay was another strong event for the Eagles, as the team of Tinsae Nelson, Simon Triezenberg, Alex Busscher, and Reuben Wiering shattered their season's best time by an incredible 14 seconds, completing the race in 8:00.56 and earning fourth.   Wiering also represented the Eagles in the 1600-meter run, where he finished 20th in 4:43, and Ahmon Parks, who took 15th in the shot put with a throw of 44'6".    This concludes the 2022 Track and Field season for the Grand Rapids Christian Eagles. Congratulations to the team on an incredible season!  

Ahmon Parks entered the shot put Regional championships as the #1 seed, but a big throw from Ionia's top thrower moved him into second place for most of the competition. With the top two finishers advancing to the state championship, however, Parks' position was secure until the final round, when a thrower from Forest Hills Eastern passed him by. With only one throw remaining, Parks was on the outside looking in. On what could have been his final throw as an Eagle, however, Parks launched a huge PR that moved him from third to first, claiming the Regional crown and advancing him to the State Championship with his put of 46'7".   Meanwhile, Hans Pruis was having a huge day of his own. In the long jump, Pruis won not by a matter of inches, but by a fraction of an inch, taking the Regional crown by 1/4" over second place with his leap of 19'9.75". Pruis then blazed to a sterling victory in the 100-meter dash, earning the title of the region's fastest athlete with a PR time of 11.06. He earned his third Regional crown by teaming up with Jaden Overvoorde, Ja'Martae Hogan, and Gregory Richardson to win the 4 x 100-meter relay in 43.78. Pruis completed his day with a third-place mark in the 200-meter dash that was fast enough to qualify him for the State Championship.   The 4 x 100 wasn't the Eagle's only relay success: the team of Reuben Wiering, Simon Triezenberg, Tinsae Nelson, and Alex Busscher gutted out a thrilling victory in the 4 x 800, outleaning Forest Hills Eastern by a quarter-second to take the win.   Powered by these Regional Champions, as well as a host of other regional medalists, the boys team earned runners-up honors, defeating eleven schools and falling only to Forest Hills Eastern, 134.5-124.   Reuben Wiering's strong race in the 1600-meter run was one of these key performances, as he finished second in 4:29, good for a trip to States. Tinsae Nelson took fifth in the same race to earn regional medalist honors.   Also medaling for the Eagles were Armaan Irving in the long jump (third in 18'9.25"), Jaylin Garcia in the discus (eighth with a PR of 115'4"), Simon Vanderbroek in the high jump (3rd in 6'0") and Eli Klunder in the high jump (7th with a PR of 5'7"), Jaden Overvoorde in the 300 hurdles (third in 42.75), Dewayne Goree in the 110-meter hurdles (third in a PR of 15.82), Simon Triezenberg in the 3200 (5th in 10:04) and Joe Waalkes in the 3200 (6th in 10:07), Tinsae Nelson in the 800 (5th in 2:02), Tayvarie Heard in the 100 (6th in 11.60) and Gregory Richardson in the 100 (3rd with a 11.42) and 200 (6th in 24.12).    Regional qualifiers will advance to the State Championship, which will be held on Saturday, June 4th at Forest Hills Eastern. Come on out and support Eagle Athletics!  

Boys' T&F Report:   Several Eagles turned in great performances on a beautiful evening for Track and Field at the OK White JV Conference meet. The meet featured an incredible 44 Personal Record efforts for Grand Rapids Christian.    Tayvarie Heard (11.55), Aaron Gholston (11.58), and Armaan Irving (11.66) were the top three finishers in a 1-6 sweep of the 100-meter dash. Jaden Overvoorde won the 200 in 23.81, with Irving close behind in third (24.55). In the 400, Jordan Rodgers won in 54.40.   In the distance events, Alex Busscher finished second in 2:08.69, while Keegan Hoekstra took second in the 3200 in 10:40, with teammate Peter Kuperus right behind in third (10:45).   Nasir Zimmerman ran 45.62 to take second in the hurdles; Rylan Granderson threw the shot 38'7.75" for second; Overvoorde won the long jump with a leap of 18'4.5", and Dream Kwon won the high jump with a mark of 5'7".    The Eagles return to action on Saturday when they compete for the Regional Championship in Ionia. Come on out and support Eagle athletics!    

The Eagles took an unusual route to earn the OK White Championship.After finishing the dual meet section of the season tied for first with Byron Center, the Eagles thought they needed to beat Byron Center in the final to be champions, which they did. However, the Eagles finished second on the day to Forest Hills Central who topped the Eagles by 8 points. But because the Rangers finished tied for third in duals, the Eagles were still crowned champions. Ahman Parks started things nicely for the Eagles winning the shot put and taking 8th in the discus. The 4x100 team also took home the gold. The 4 members of the team, Jaden OverVoorde, Hans Pruis, Buddy Hogan, and Gregory Richardson were all over the track scoring in the hurdles, long jump, and sprints. The big point scorer on the longer events was Tinsae Nelson, who was second in the 4x800 relay, the 1600, the 800, and third in the 4x400. The Eagles will head to Ionia Saturday for regionals.

  Boys' Track and Field Report:   The Eagles took second out of six teams at the East Grand Rapids Classic on Saturday, scoring 83 points. Forest Hills Eastern took the title with 118 points, while the Eagles defeated Petoskey, East Grand Rapids, Rockford, and Greenville.   Ace Thomas and Ahmon Parks earned the team's only individual event victories on the day, with Thomas winning the 100-meter dash in 11.48 and Parks taking the discus with a throw of 124'11". The Distance Medley Relay team of Simon Triezenberg, Alex Busscher, Tinsae Nelson, and Reuben Wiering also earned a victory with a time of 11:10.   Other notable performances include Joe Waalkes' 3rd-place finish of 10:02 in the two-mile, Parks' PR shot put of 43'2" (3rd place), and Jordan Rodgers 2nd-place mark in the long jump of 18'2".   The Eagles return to action on Tuesday when they host Byron Center. Come on out to support Eagle Athletics!  

Grand Rapids Christian's Boys Track and Field team swept a dual meet in frigid conditions at Northview High School on Tuesday. The Eagles trounced Northview by a score of 101-32, and edged Forest Hills Central, 73-64. Taking home event wins on the day were Gregory Richardson in the 100 (11.51), Ace Thomas in the 200 (23.94), Alex Busscher in the 400 (54.86), Tinsae Nelson in the 800 (2:08.38), and Reuben Wiering in the mile (4:33). The Eagles' team of Richardson, Thomas, Hans Pruis, and Ja'Martae Hogan also won the 4 x 100-meter relay, while the 4 x 400 team of Nelson, Wiering, Richardson, and Busscher also took home first place. The Eagles return to action this Saturday in East Grand Rapids for the EGR Classic in what one hopes will be warmer conditions. Come on out and support the Eagles Track and Field teams!

Boys T&F:   The GRC Boys Track and Field team opened their season by splitting a pair of dual meets against Lowell and Greenville on Wednesday. The team defeated Greenville 91-46, but fell to Lowell 72-65.   Gregory Richardson had a strong day for the Eagles, picking up a win in the 100 meter dash in 11.40, just one hundredth ahead of teammate Hans Pruis's second-place performance. Richardson also took second in the 200. The 4 x 100 relay team of Ja'Martae Hogan, Ace Thomas, Gregory Richardson, and Jaden Overvoorde also took the win with a mark of 44.67.   Reuben Wiering dominated in the distance events, winning the 800 meter run in 2:06.49, and the mile in 4:34.97. In the field, Simon Vandenbroek tied for first with a high jump of 5'6", while Jordan Rodgers took second in the long jump in 19'7.5".   The team returns to action on Saturday when they compete at the Houseward Invitational at Unity Christian. Come on out and support the Eagle athletes!

Boys T&F:   The GRC Boys Track and Field team opened their season by splitting a pair of dual meets against Lowell and Greenville on Wednesday. The team defeated Greenville 91-46, but fell to Lowell 72-65.   Gregory Richardson had a strong day for the Eagles, picking up a win in the 100 meter dash in 11.40, just one hundredth ahead of teammate Hans Pruis's second-place performance. Richardson also took second in the 200. The 4 x 100 relay team of Ja'Martae Hogan, Ace Thomas, Gregory Richardson, and Jaden Overvoorde also took the win with a mark of 44.67.   Reuben Wiering dominated in the distance events, winning the 800 meter run in 2:06.49, and the mile in 4:34.97. In the field, Simon Vandenbroek tied for first with a high jump of 5'6", while Jordan Rodgers took second in the long jump in 19'7.5".   The team returns to action on Saturday when they compete at the Houseward Invitational at Unity Christian. Come on out and support the Eagle athletes!