Anderson, IN — Though most of her teammates didn’t make the trip, freshman Deanna Kronk picked Thursday afternoon to have her best day as a collegiate athlete.

With a limited Goshen College track and field squad making the journey to the Anderson University Runners Forum Invite Thursday afternoon due to academic obligations, Kronk merely shattered a four-year old school record in the hammer throw, taking second place in the contest while adding a second-place performance in the shot put and a third-place effort in the discus as well.

Fault her only for not doing it in front of a larger crowd.

“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,” said Rick Clark, Goshen head coach. “Even with that there were several highlights as we competed in the warmest conditions we have had this spring.”

Kronk’s successes topped that list, as the freshman erased the 2002 hammer throw record of 127 feet, 10 inches with a sling of 134 feet, 7 inches, giving Kronk her second school mark (she set the program record for the weight throw during the indoor season, eclipsing a mark of 42 feet, 11 inches; click here for article). Kronk’s newest program record wipes out former All-American Ann Christenson’s record in the event, though Christenson still holds a combined three program marks in both indoor and outdoor competition.

“Deanna had a really good day throwing,” Clark said. “Not only did she break the school record in the hammer, but also fared really well in both the shot put and the discus. She is on pace to really set some new standards here for our program.”

Kronk’s heave of 36 feet, 9 inches in the shot put was second overall and her sling of 118 feet, 1 inch in the discus was good for third place, giving Clark a solid showing in the throwing events with just one athlete. Kronk also finished third in the javelin throw (93 feet, 10 inches).

“Deanna has lofty goals,” Clark said. “She is proving to herself that with work she can reach them.”

Kronk was backed by sophomores Cally and Carly Feldman in the throwing events, as the twin sisters paired to tie for fifth place in the shot put, each registering a mark of 31 feet, 11 inches. Cally Feldman took sixth in the hammer throw with a distance of 109 feet. Senior Tara Plank finished sixth in the javelin with a distance of 85 feet, 7 inches.

Clark received further support in the field from freshman Betsy Freeman, as the first-year athlete took home a blue ribbon in the high jump, clearing a height of 5 feet. Sophomore Lindsy Glick finished third in the pole vault competition (8 feet, 6 inches) while freshman Rachel Versluis took fourth in the long jump (14 feet, 6 inches).
On the track, Goshen was led by its 4 X 400 relay team of Versluis, senior Rachel Yantzi and freshmen Laura Harnish and Abri Houser, as the squad teamed to win the event in a time of 4:13.50. The Leafs’ 4 X 100 relay team took home third-place honors in a time of :52.10. That squad was comprised of Houser, Plank, Versluis and freshman Lydie Assefa.

Other top-five finishes for the team included Houser’s second-place effort in the 400-meter dash (1:00.72) and a fourth-place performance by Plank in the 100-meter sprint (:14.07). Versluis finished sixth overall in the 200-meter dash, clocking a time of :28.25.

“Betsy Freeman excelled in the field with a victory in the high jump of 5 feet,” Clark said. “Both relay teams ran well by winning the 4 X 400 and earning a season-best in the 4 X 100.”

Goshen’s wide-spread success was limited only by its overall numbers at the invite, as the team could only muster enough points for a fourth-place finish in the five-team event. Anderson won the overall team competition with 145 points, followed by Taylor University (139), Cedarville University (108), Goshen (82) and the University of St. Francis (42). For a complete list of individual and team results, click here.

Goshen will next take a week off for final examinations before returning to the track and field for the Mid-Central Conference Championships, taking place Friday, Apr. 28 and Saturday, Apr, 29 at Taylor. Field events are slated to begin at 2 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m. Saturday. Track events will kick off slightly later, starting at 3 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.