Michigan Woman Wins NCAA Championship

Nicole Michmerhuizen came home last weekend as a national champion. A member of Maranatha Christian Reformed Church, Holland, Mich., and a junior at Calvin College, Michmerhuizen won the 10,000 meters race at the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in La Crosse, Wisc.

Nicole Michmerhuizen

The top seed for the event, she placed first with a time of 35 minutes, 45.08 seconds.

“Winning the 10,000 meters was an amazing experience that I will remember for a long time,” said Michmerhuizen. “I didn’t know exactly how the race was going to play out last night, but I knew that I could commit to running to the best of my ability and for God’s glory. I knew that all I could do was run with the strength God had given me and trust that the results were going to fit into his plan.”

This gentle-spirited young woman has proven herself a fierce competitor, transforming from a solid high school runner to an elite college athlete in just a few seasons. “It has been really exciting to improve so much over the past three years. I hope that I never settle in running or in life and always strive to do my very best.”

Michmerhuizen was also the runner-up in the women’s 5,000 meters at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships earlier this spring.

“This season has been incredible—beyond what I could ever ask for or imagine. I am so thankful for all of my supporters who made it possible—my coaches, teammates, family, and friends,” she said. “Most of all, I am grateful to God for giving me the ability to run, the strength to push through difficult times, and the community that encourages me, no matter what happens.”