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Ashley Amanda
As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end and for the Overgaauw twin sisters, Ashley and Amanda, their high school athletics careers did just that at the state track and field meet. Both girls qualified for two individual events, Amanda in the 3200, Ashley in the 800 and both in the 1600. As the weekend concluded, they both would be coming home with two medals and a sense of accomplishment.
Ashley was the first to compete, running the prelims of the 800. There were two heats, with Ashley being in the second. The top two from each heat automatically advanced to the finals along with the next five fastest times. The first heat featured five girls that ran sub 2:20 time. That would mean that Ashley would have run one of her best times to qualify. After the first lap, Ashley was in fifth place, bunched up with a group of girls. Throughout the second lap, she was able to move herself up in the pack and finish her heat in second place, automatically qualifying herself for the finals scheduled for the next day. Her time of 2:18.61 would not only be a personal best, but would also establish a new school record!
About an hour after Ashley’s 800 prelim, Amanda had her 3200 final. This would be the third straight year running this event, placing 3rd in 2021 and 2nd in 2022. The two time defending state champion, Jade Rypkema from Nevis, also was returning for her final state meet. Overgaauw and Rypkema would set the tone for the race and show that there are a couple of the top distance runners in the state. Halfway through the race, those two separated themselves from the pack, getting 15 seconds ahead of the third place runner. The final four laps, Rypkema would challenge Overgaauw’s pace, slowly extending a lead. As the final lap bell rang, both girls took off, but Rypkema was able to pull head to win the event. Amanda would repeat as the state runner up, finishing 17 seconds ahead of third place.
The next day, both girls had the 1600 finals. Although they are both distance runners, they only ran this race against each other a few times. After lap one, Amanda and Ashley found themselves in 6th and 7th place. After running about even splits on lap two, Amanda worked herself up to 4th and Ashley 6th. Despite running their third lap over two seconds faster, they would maintain those positions. The last lap was a battle, as all the runners gave it their all, fighting for position. They were able to work themselves up within the pack and hold on to 3rd (Amanda) and 4th place (Ashley), finishing two seconds apart. Amanda’s time of 5:06.5 would be a school record, beating Ashley’s that she had set three times over the course of the season. It was a great sight for the MCC fans and Overgaauw parents to see the two girls run one last race together.
Although the 1600 ended Amanda’s day, Ashley still had the 800 finals to run. After the prelims, she had the 5th fastest time going into finals. As the gun started the race, the pack went out setting a fast first lap pace. Amanda found herself in ninth place 600 meters into the race. But as a few of the runners fell from pace the last 200 meters, Ashley’s training and determination kicked in. One by one, she passed five competitors on her way to a 4th place finish, running the race in 2:18.58, breaking her school record again!
When the weekend was over, Ashley had this to say about the state meet and her career. “ I thought the weekend was a lot of fun and very exciting! I was nervous for the prelims in the 800 and then I got the school record and was really excited. On Friday, I had a personal record time in the mile and was able to break the school record in the 800 finals. I was overall happy and excited with how state went. My high school career was better than I could have ever imagined. I always loved running and put my best into it, having fun at the same time. I met so many friends and running overall made me the person I am today. I’ll always remember the memories and practices throughout the years and how much I have grown in track and outside of the sport.”
Amanda had similar feelings. “I was both excited and sad because this was my last state meet. I wanted to make the most out of it. It was a lot of fun and I’m glad I ended my high school career on a good note. Getting 2nd in the 3200 and 3rd in the 1600 was an awesome way to end my season. Running the mile with Ashley was lots of fun and getting the school record was an unforgettable experience. Being a Rebel meant a lot to me. My high school career has been an awesome experience I will always remember and be grateful for. I had some amazing teammates, the best coaches, and lots of support.”
Although their high school careers have come to an end, their story is not over. They will retire the purple and black of the Rebels in exchange for the blue and gold of the Augustana University Vikings where they will both participate in cross country and track and field collegiately at the division two level. Thank you Amanda and Ashley for all you have done for MCC athletics. You have been great role models on and off the competitive fields. We wish you the best with the next chapter of your lives.
