Trio Of Upperclassmen Continue To Raise The Bar On Track
MARION, Ind. - Just a week after setting new school records at the Taylor University Invitational, senior Rachael Baker and junior Peni Acayo continued their assault on the Goshen College track and field all-time marks at this weekend's Wildcat Invitational.
Already the Leafs' record holder in both the indoor and outdoor triple jump, Acayo (Kampala, Uganda) added another six inches to her indoor mark with a leap of 38'10.5" on Saturday. In just two events this season, Acayo has already added nearly a foot and a half to the record she set last year.
"Peni continues to fly far in the triple jump and in the process she broke the existing meet and track record for the IWU fieldhouse," said head coach Rick Clark. "Acayo also had a personal indoor best in the long jump by going over the 17-foot mark for the first time."
In Saturday's event, Acayo jumped more than two feet further than the next competitor, while also breaking the venue record by nearly a foot. Her new record places her third on the current NAIA performance list just two weeks before heading to the NAIA National Championships in Johnson City, Tenn. In the long jump, Acayo placed sixth with a personal best 17'1.5" mark.
Also making a little bit of history for the second-straight week was Baker (Fremont, Ind.). The senior trimmed nearly three seconds off her own school record in the 600 meters. Her 1:40.51 was good for fourth and was less than a second off the provisional national qualifying time.
She came back later in the meet to place fifth in the 1,000 meters with a time of 3:09.15, also just off the national qualifying mark. "Rachael also had an excellent outing on Saturday with two personal bests," Clark added.
The Maple Leaf throwing corp was also in action on Saturday as Rachel Mast (30'9.25"), Jessica Steil (29'1.75") and Sonia Navarro (27'1.75") all competed in the shot put. Mast (37'7.75") and Steil (35'8") also were part of the weight throw field.
In other action at the non team scored meet, Goshen College alumnus Laura Harnish ('09) took the individual title in the 3,000 meters with a time of 10:39.59.
ADA, Ohio - While most the team was at the Indiana Wesleyan event, senior Tina Peters trekked into her home state of Ohio to compete in the 3K race walk at Ohio Northern University.
The three-time defending national champion in the indoor event, Peters took the individual title at ONU in 15:08.35. Her time trimmed eight seconds off her season best and places her second on the current NAIA performance list.