Marion, IN — With a cloud of despair hanging over the very site of the 2006 Mid-Central Conference Track & Field Championships, the Goshen College women’s team did its best to shine through, grabbing a fourth-place finish overall behind a monstrous effort that included three all-MCC performers, four first-place finishes, four new school records and three NAIA National Championship qualifications. It was — combined with the Leafs’ men capturing fourth place as well (click here for article) — the best combined finish for the Goshen program since the MCC expanded to eight or more schools in the early 1990s.

“We had a very successful two days of competition at the MCC Championships,” said Rick Clark, Goshen head coach. “Our goal had been to be in the top half of the conference since the beginning of conditioning this year, and both teams were able to accomplish this. We’re proud of how we competed.”

After a tragic automobile accident involving Taylor University students and faculty (click here for details) prompted a venue change for the MCC Championships from Taylor to nearby Indiana Wesleyan University, a palpable sense of sorrow surrounded the weekend event. However, all nine league schools competed with class and grace according to Clark, a tribute to the character of the athletes competing.

“Just competing at Indiana Wesleyan (instead of at Taylor) was a constant reminder of how tragic last week’s accident was for everyone associated with Taylor and the conference,” Clark said. “I thought all of the athletes competed with an attitude of dignity out of respect for the recent events.”

With that dignity came a steady, calming effort from the Leafs’ women’s unit, which produced more MCC Champions this weekend than in any of the previous five conference meets. Leading the way was junior All-American Petrana Petkova, who won both the 5,000-meter (18:23.10) and 10,000-meter (37:58.95) runs, reaching the NAIA national qualifying marks in both events.

“Petrana captured her second consecutive All-MCC honor behind two very good races,” Clark said. “It was good to see her defend her championships in both events with relative ease.”

Petkova was joined by freshmen Abri Houser and Deanna Kronk with All-MCC accolades, as both first-year athletes bettered previous school records while claiming firsts in events other than those that garnered them All-MCC status. Houser captured a first-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles, finishing in a time of :15.32. Her 1:05.76 clip in the 400-meter hurdles, however, was good for third place overall, though it broke her previous program record of 1:07.07 and fell under the NAIA national qualifying mark for the event. Kronk, meanwhile, took home first place in the discus (116 feet, 1 inch), though her school record came in the hammer throw, recording a distance of 135 feet, 3 inches — a betterment of her previous school record 134 feet, 7 inches set earlier this year.

“Abri and Deanna have excelled in their first year against collegiate competition, and this weekend was no different,” Clark said. “Both have the potential and desire to continue to improve over their careers, and we’re excited about the future.”

Goshen’s women’s team set its other two school records in its ever-improving relay teams, as both the 4 X 400 and 4 X 800 squads shattered the respective program marks. The 4 X 800 team of Petkova, senior Rachel Yantzi and freshmen Lydie Assefa and Laura Harnish ran a 9:51.78 time (fourth place), breaking their previous mark of 10:04.12 set earlier this season. The Leafs’ 4 X 400 team broke a five-year old clip with a time of 4:07.04 (third place), with Houser replacing Petkova to better a 2001 time of 4:10.34.

The Leafs’ depth was apparent in other events as well, as an additional five top-five finishes rounded off the highly successful weekend. Junior Laura Herr again was dominant in the distance runs, claiming third place in the 10,000-meter run (40:02.79) and fourth in the 5,000-meter event (18:59.89). Freshan Rachel Versluis took home second in the pole vault with a 9 feet, 6 inch performance, while classmate Betsy Freeman finished third in the high jump with a leap of 5 feet, 1 inch. Sophomore Cally Feldman was a fifth-place performer in the hammer throw (116 feet, 5 inches) while the 4 X 100 relay team of Assefa, Houser, Versluis, senior Tara Plank and junior Lorna Matura finished fifth in a time of :51.56.

Bethel College won the team event with 159 total points. Indiana Wesleyan finished second with 155 points, followed by Taylor (117), Goshen (112.5), Marian College (100), Huntington University (93.5), Spring Arbor University (32), University of St. Francis (26) and Grace College (14). For a complete list of team and individual results in all MCC Championship events, click here.

Goshen will next compete at NCAA Division I University of Toledo’s Toledo Rocket Open on Friday. The meet will is slated to begin at 10 a.m.