BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Hope College sprinter Sara Schermerhorn captured a national championship in the 400 meters and added a second All-American finish Saturday at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham, Alabama.
The senior from Traverse City West won the 400 meters in a school-record 54.406 seconds, edging out Grace Yarkosky of Plattsburgh State by just 0.004 seconds in a dramatic finish to the first of two four-runner heats in the finals. Schermerhorn then watched the second heat race since the fastest time of either heat would be crowned NCAA champion.
A Hope celebration erupted after that group’s top runner — Macalester College sophomore Arielle Roghan-Press, who clocked the fastest time during Friday’s prelims at 44.22 seconds — crossed the finish line 0.009 seconds slower, making Schermerhorn the Flying Dutch’s first indoor national champion and third national champion in track and field.
“Being able to compete in the championship atmosphere is such an amazing feeling,” Schermerhorn said. “I am beyond grateful to come away with a win in such a competitive field.”
Schermerhorn joined Nora Kuiper and Erin Herrmann as national champions at Hope. Kuiper sprinted to the outdoor 100-meter title in 2009. Herrmann raced to the outdoor 3,000-meter steeplechase crown in 2017.
The exercise science major competed in the 200-meter final an hour later, placing eighth overall and earning First Team All-America honors indoors for the second time at the meet and sixth time during her career with a run of 24.79 seconds.
Schermerhorn propelled the Flying Dutch to a tie for 19th place out of 61 scoring teams with 11 points.
First-year head coach Jordan Bartolazzi praised Schermerhorn for her preparation for and execution at a pressure-packed moment.
“Winning is so hard. For her to do that is such an incredible accomplishment. I feel so proud of her,” Bartolazzi said. “The very first time I talked with her after being hired as head coach, she told me she wanted to win a national title. I got to watch her do everything right for the last nine months to put herself in that position. Today was the culmination of a ton of hard work and commitment from her. It’s an incredible accomplishment.”
Schermerhorn led from start to finish in her 400-meter race, surging down the final stretch to hold off the long-strided Yarkowsky in a photo finish.
“Sara executed our race plan so well,” Bartolazzi said. “Our plan was to race from the gun, win the break line, and have her give it her all on the second lap. To watch [Yardowsky] close on Sara was nerve-wracking, but Sara is such a great competitor. She felt her coming on and was able to surge to the finish.”
An agonizing wait followed. Uniquely in track and field, sprinters are split for the eight-runner championship final because the indoor track only has six lanes.
“It was the longest minute of my life,” Bartolazzi said. “We had talked a lot about ‘We control what we can control.’ We couldn’t control what other people were going to do at that precise moment. Sara just finished the race to the best of her ability. It was a special moment to stand with her. Regardless of what happened, she accomplished her goal of performing the very best she could.
“While it was a long minute,” Bartolazzi said. “I am so grateful we had that chance before we celebrated.”