Indianapolis, IN — Competing in one of the oldest collegiate track meets in the country — and one of the most competitive on its schedule — the Goshen College track and field program struggled to find its collective groove at this weekend’s 100th Little State Championships on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis. With all NAIA, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III Indiana schools participating, Goshen’s men’s team was able to capture a 15th-place team finish at the 20-team meet, a slight disappointment from the impressive results the team has posted thus far on the season. Still, a number of athletes turned in positive performances over the two-day competition, pleasing Goshen head coach Rick Clark in the process.

“Our men’s team stumbled a bit but still had good performances in a number of areas,” Clark said. “We had two very pleasant days of weather to compete in this meet, which is thought to be one of the oldest collegiate track events in the country.”

Junior Don Williams did his best to help his team’s cause, finishing fourth in the high jump (6 feet, 2 inches) and fifth in the 110-meter high hurdles (time of :15.66), Goshen’s only top five finishes on the day.

“Don had a good double placing in both the high jump and 110 high hurdles,” Clark said. “He has been a constant for us throughout the season.”

Williams was backed by an impressive display of throwing by junior Matt Hochstetler, who made the finals in both the hammer throw and the discus, finishing eighth in the hammer with a distance of 140 feet, 4 inches and 10th in the discus with a length of 131 feet, 8 inches.

“Matt Hochstetler’s toss of 140 feet, 4 inches in the weight throw was a career best and placed him eighth out of 35 throwers,” Clark said. “He took 10th out of 45 athletes in the discus event. Any time you’re finishing that high in a field as large and competitive as this weekend’s was, you are really throwing at a high level.”

Sophomore Jason Young completed the Leafs’ push in the men’s slate, taking an eighth-place finish in the 400-meter dash in a clip of :50.73. Young advanced to the finals of the event by running a :50.37 time in the preliminaries.

Goshen’s men’s team finished with a total 11 points, good for a 15th-place finish. That place marked the first time this season that the Leafs’ women’s team (which finished in 11th place with 19 team points) outdid the men’s squad in team placement. (See women’s recap here). The University of Indianapolis won the team competition on the men’s side with a total 110 points. For complete team results and individual event finishes to the meet, click here.

Goshen will next travel to Mid-Central Conference rival Taylor University for the Taylor Invite on Saturday.