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GOSHEN, Ind. – With headwinds of at least 20-30 miles per hour, it seemed like a day that records would be safe.
The first day of the Mid-Central Conference Championships proved to be quite the opposite. Competitors were up to the challenge of facing the wind as they shattered the discus and hammer throw records for both the Eigsti Track and Field Complex and MCC Championship records.
Highlighting the day for Goshen was Justin Hochstetler, who broke the Goshen College record in the discus. Hochstetler's throw of 153-feet, 6-inches was over seven feet past the record set in 2006 by his brother, Matt. With the mark, Hochstetler also hit the provisional qualifying mark for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships to be held in St. Louis.
Meanwhile, Indiana Wesleyan's John Bouwman made it look easy as he set a new MCC mark in the event with a throw of 181'8". In the hammer, Bouwman set another MCC mark with a throw of 174'7".
Hochstetler had another fine performance in the hammer throw as he placed fifth with a mark of 150'10". Brother Jeff finished right behind him in sixth at 146'1".
With just five finals in the books on opening day, the Maple Leafs sit in fifth place with 19 points. In additional to the points picked up by the Hochestler brothers, Goshen received a seventh-place finish by Brent Handsfield (20'6 1/4") in the long jump, an eighth-place effort by Jake Gillette in the 10K (35:22.36), and a fifth-place showing by the 4x800 relay team (8:31.25).
In preliminary action, both Sam Boldman and David Horst booked their places in the 110-meter hurdle finals on Saturday.
Indiana Wesleyan is leading the team scoring with 65 points, while five schools are separated by just ten points from second to sixth-place early on.
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Senior Justin Hochstetler