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FEB.
4 — Petkova,
Yantzi Lead Women In Maple Leaf Invite
Goshen
drops team score to Pilots, but pair
of school records highlight evening |
Goshen, IN — With a full team
competing for the first time this season, the Goshen College women’s
track team got a solid performance against Bethel College at the
Maple Leaf Indoor Invitational Friday night at the Roman Gingerich
Center. Two Leaf athletes — junior Rachel Yantzi and sophomore
Petrana Petkova — shone above all others, as the duo each
set a new school record in their respective event.
“Our women were led by double victories and school records
by Rachel Yantzi and Petrana Petkova Friday night,” said
Rick Clark, Goshen head coach. “Both had terrific efforts,
and really led us in a lot of ways.”
Yantzi broke the Goshen indoor record in the weight throw, slinging
the device a distance of 39 feet, 6 inches, replacing the old program
mark of 39 feet even by Ann Christenson in 2002. Yantzi’s
record-breaking performance came in throwing competitively for
just the first time this season, giving Clark reason to be optimistic.
“Rachel has worked very hard on her technique since coming
to Goshen,” he
said. “I am very proud of her.”
Petkova, who set a new school record and hit the NAIA national
automatic qualifying mark in the 5,000-meter run just a week earlier
at the Findlay Indoor Classic, did a number on the Leafs’ program
mark in the 3,000-meter run on Friday night, winning the event
in a Goshen indoor-record time of 10:28.78. That clip just beat
former Goshen All-American Heidi Saunders’ mark of 10:29.06
set last year.
Even with Yantzi and Petkova leading the way, Goshen could not
outdo the visiting Pilots, as Bethel took a 76 to 45 team point
score for the meet. Still, the Leafs were not without other highlights,
as junior and first-time track participant Tara Plank made her
first collegiate meet a good one, finishing first in the 200-meter
dash in a time of :29.14. She also finished second in the long
jump with a leap of 14 feet, 4 inches. In her first two years at
the school, Plank had kept her abilities on the soccer field.
“Tara Plank was very impressive in her first collegiate track meet,” Clark
said. “As she continues to train she will only get faster and better.”
Other highlights from the meet included Yantzi’s win in the 800-meter run
(2:36.39) and second place finishes from both junior Erin Williams in the 55-meter
hurdles (:09.81) and freshman Lindsy Glick in the triple jump (29 feet, 8 inches).
Goshen’s 4 X 2 relay team of Yantzi, Plank, Glick and freshman Zorina Keyser
also performed well, winning that event over Bethel’s foursome.
“We’re very confident with the times and efforts we’re putting
up
so far,” Clark said. “We will continue to work hard at improving
in preparation for national competition.”
Goshen will next compete in the Taylor University Invitational on Saturday.
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  Junior
Rachel Yantzi
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