Members of the Sailor track teams traveled to Houseman Field on Saturday, April 25, 2026, to compete in the GR Elite Challenge. This premier event brought numerous talented track and field athletes together from the greater West Michigan area. It was a sunny and pleasant day for competition, and numerous personal-best and season-best times and distances were achieved. The Lady Sailors delivered a powerhouse performance this week, securing 7th place in a massive field of 29 teams. Accumulating 33 points, the Sailors finished within striking distance of regional rival Grand Rapids Christian, trailing them by a mere 2.5 points. Record-Breaking Runs: The highlight of the meet belonged to senior Chloe Rinzema, who dominated the 800m Run. Rinzema clocked a blistering, personal-record time of 2:15.93, taking 1st place and shattering her own previously held school record. The distance events saw more hardware thanks to freshman standout Lily VanEyk, who posted PRs in both her events. VanEyk took 3rd in the 3200m (11:31.30) and 7th in the 1600m (5:19.93), proving herself a rising force in the region. Track & Field Highlights: The Sailors showed depth across the board, from sprints to the throwing rings: 400m Dash: Freshman Noah Lanning surged to a 6th-place finish with a strong time of 1:00.65. Shot Put & Discus: Junior Ellie Pettinga hit a double-PR day, tossing 31’ 04” in the shot put and 76’ 07” in the discus. Relay Results: The Lady Sailors' relay teams displayed clinical teamwork, with both the 4x400 and 4x800 squads earning top-5 finishes. The 4x800m relay team of Annalise Wiltjer (9), Gabriella Agar (11), Ava Oostema (10), and Lydia Huisman (12) ran a time of 10:35.37 to finish in 5th place. The 4x400m relay team of Noelle Hulst (9), Jenna VanderLaan (10), Belle Oostema (9), and Chloe Rinzema (12) dominated with a season-best time of 4:14.97 to take the 3rd place spot. Boys Battle Through Tough Field; Raak Sets New PR: Facing a stacked field of competitors, the Boys’ Track and Field team fought for every point, ultimately securing 25th place with a total of 6 points. Despite the stiff competition, the Sailors walked away with several standout performances and a new personal best. Individual Standouts: Sophomore Easton Raak provided the spark of the day in the 400m Dash. Raak sprinted to a 4th-place finish, clocking in at 50.99—a new personal record and a significant milestone for the sprinter. In the field, senior Daniel Egler represented the Sailors in the Pole Vault. Egler cleared a height of 11’ 06”, earning a 9th-place finish and contributing to the team’s overall effort. Relay Results: The Sailors’ 4x400m Relay team capped off the event with a scoring performance. The veteran-led squad of Trevor Helmholdt (12), Rex Jackson (12), Hudson Kemper (9), and Easton Raak (10) crossed the line in 3:36.63, good for 8th place. Full meet results can be found at https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/615608/results.