IAnderson, IN — Taking only one-third of its roster to Thursday’s Anderson University Runners Forum Invite did not hinder the Goshen College track and field program from success, as the Leafs rattled off a plethora of top-five finishes in the seven-team event.

With academic obligations keeping many of Goshen’s athletes at home — final examinations occur next week — head coach Rick Clark was without the majority of his athletes. Still, Goshen managed to place fourth in the team finishes (87 team points), serving as a final tune-up for the upcoming Mid-Central Conference Championships on April 28-29.

“We were a bit handicapped by having absent about one-third of both the men’s and women’s team due to academic obligations since we are at the end of the school term,” Clark said. “Even with that there were several highlights as we competed in the warmest conditions we’ve had this spring.”

Leading the way were the squad’s relay teams, as the 4 X 400 unit captured first overall in a time of 3:29.94 and the 4 X 100 team in second place in a clip of :43.89. The latter, comprised of seniors Daniel Constantine and Don Williams, junior Jason Young and freshman Nelson Kling also provided highlights in other events, most notably Constantine’s first-place effort in the 400-meter dash in a season-best time of :50.80. Williams took a second-place performance in the 110-meter hurdles (:16.07), and a third-place result in the high jump (5 feet, 10 inches), while Kling finished fourth in the 100-meter dash in a time of :11.81. Young, normally competing in the mid-distance sprints, tried his hand in the javelin, capturing third overall with a distance of 144 feet, 5 inches.

Goshen’s first-place relay efforts in the 4 X 400 were spearheaded by freshman Brent Handfield, who had a marvelous day in other areas as well. Handfield finished third in both the long jump (18 feet, 11 inches) and the triple jump (38 feet, 11 and 1/2 inches). Joining Handfield in the 4 X 400 relay were Constantine, Young and freshman Andrew Murto.

“Our men’s team saw relays as a highlight event area, with the 4 X 4 team coming from behind in the final two legs to win while the 4 X 100 team placed second in a season-best effort of :43.89,” Clark said. “Daniel Constantine found the victory lane in the 400 dash running to a season-best :50.80.”

Other top five finishes included a fourth-place result by sophomore Luis Robledo in the pole vault (12 feet) and an identical finish by senior Tolu Kayode in the hammer throw (148 feet, 6 inches). Senior Matt Hochstetler took home fifth place in the discus event, slinging the object a distance of 137 feet, 6 inches. Younger brother — and sophomore — Justin Hochstetler finished fifth in the javelin throw with a hurl of 129 feet, 4 inches. Justin Hochstetler also took home a sixth-place finish in the discus with a 122 feet, 9 inch toss. Freshman Sam Boldman finished sixth in the 110-meter hurdles, finishing in a time of :17.29.

Cedarville University won the men’s team event, charting a day’s-best 144 points. Taylor University finished second with 134 points, followed by Anderson (118), Goshen (87), the University of St. Francis (56), Walsh University 23 and Franklin College (6). For a complete list of events and individual and team results from the meet, click here.

Goshen will next take a week off for final examinations before returning to the track next weekend, when the squad will travel to Taylor for the 2006 MCC Championships. Field events are slated to begin at 2 p.m. on Friday, Apr. 28 and at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 29. Track events will start shortly thereafter, beginning at 3 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.