Louisville, KY — It was a bittersweet moment for Goshen College senior Justin Gillette at the conclusion of this weekend’s 2005 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, as Gillette again carried the torch for the Leaf’s men’s track and field program — serving as the team’s lone representative at the nation’s biggest meet for the second consecutive year.

Sure, there was plenty to feel sweet about, as Gillette finished fifth in the marathon competition, garnering his fourth All-American honor and setting a new school record in the process, bumping his old mark with a clip of 2:29.14 on Saturday morning.

However, the honor would be Gillette’s last in a Goshen uniform, as the distance runner concluded his brilliant collegiate career as he crossed the finish line, graduating just weeks earlier with a degree in education.

Gillette finished his career holding at least a part of eight school records, and is only the second athlete to record multiple All-American finishes in Goshen men’s track and field history. According to Goshen assistant coach Doug Yoder, his latest honor came from deep within.

“Justin ran with his heart Saturday morning,” Yoder said. “It may not have been his smartest race in his time here, but it was one of his gutsiest.”

Gillette stormed out of the gates early in the race, running with Siomo Kiplagat of Lindenwood University for the first 10 miles before settling into second for most of the last half. Eventual winner Dave Gramlich of Malone College led a group of four runners into the lead pack, with Gillette holding on for fifth and Kiplagat falling to 10th.

Yoder said he believed the initial pace to be too fast. He said he was impressed with Gillette’s ability to stave off a surge of late runners in order to capture his third All-American finish in the marathon event.

“While early on Justin perhaps lost sight of the game plan a little bit, he was able to make the adjustment. He was able to finish strong over the last quarter-mile when a group of guys were really steamrolling in.”

Gillette added the latest All-American trophy to his other top marathon finishes (second in 2004 and fourth in 2003), tossing in a sixth-place finish in the 2004 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships for his fourth All-American honor. Gillette’s marathon time of 2:29.14 on Saturday outdid his previous best by 30 seconds (2:29.44 set in 2004), despite the course being approximately 100 meters longer this year. The race’s finish line was extended for safety considerations, according to Goshen head coach Rick Clark.

“Repeating as an All-American in any event is difficult, but especially so in the marathon, because of the difference in the course and the competition each year,” Clark said. “Between (senior) Melissa (Lehman) — click here for women’s championship recap — and Justin, they are five for five in the marathon, which is impressive.”

Gillette finishes his career as one of the most decorated athletes in both Goshen track and cross country history, as his four All-American honors has yet to be duplicated in men’s track and field. Gillette also competed at the national level seven times between track and cross country, leading the Leafs’ cross country team in average time in his last three seasons. He also holds the indoor school record in the 1,600-meter run, the 3,000-meters, the 3,200-meters, the 5,000-meters and is on the school record teams in the 4 X 400 meter relay, the 4 X 800 meter relay and the distance medley relay team. His current marathon clip is also the program’s best in outdoor competition.

“Justin Gillette has been the staple for our men’s distance running corps over the past four years,” Clark said. “He has been an active part of our campus life, and he has worked as hard as anyone we’ve ever had. His work ethic, dedication and commitment will be missed.”

As a result of Gillette’s finish this weekend, Goshen finished in 46th-place in the team results at the national championship meet, garnering four team points. Dickinson State University won the team scoring event with a total 99 points. For a complete list of team finishes and scores, click here. For a complete list of individual results, click here.

A special thanks to Lyle Miller, who contributed to this article.