Marion, IN — For those wondering why Indiana Wesleyan University’s season-opening track and field event is dubbed the Polar Bear Invite, one only needed to be in attendance at Saturday’s meet.

Temperatures in the lower 40’s and brisk winds set the backdrop at the Indiana Wesleyan track and field complex Saturday, making Goshen’s first outdoor meet of the season a chilly one.

Even with the conditions, the Leafs’ women’s squad posted impressive results, complete with a new school record and a double first-place performance, both coming from first-year athletes.

“For cool conditions, we had a good opening meet on Saturday,” said Rick Clark, Goshen head coach. “Each team had one double winner, and all of our athletes were able to post results near or at their competitive range. It was a good start for us overall.”

Freshman Abri Houser again wasted no time in setting a new school mark in her first collegiate outdoor event, breaking the program’s 100-meter hurdles mark in a time of :15.34, good for first place on the afternoon. Houser’s mark broke the record of :15.55 set by Janelle Hilty in 1994, and was her second season-opening, school record-breaking performance in just her first year on campus. Houser broke Goshen’s 55-meter hurdles indoor record in the team’s first indoor meet of the year on Jan. 28 (click here for article).

“Abri is a very talented athlete, and she continues to work very hard on her technique,” Clark said. “Hopefully she can continue to improve at the rate she has already established.”

In addition to her record-setting run in the 100-meter hurdles, Houser took fourth place in the high jump, clearing a height of 4 feet, 6 inches. That event was won by fellow freshman Betsy Freeman, who cleared 5 feet.

On the day, Goshen recorded seven first-place finishes, led by double-winner freshman Deanna Kronk. Kronk took top honors in both the shot put (37 feet, 10 inches) and discus (107 feet, 2 inches) while placing second in the hammer throw (118 feet, 2 inches). Kronk’s success was backed by junior Rachel Slentz (third in the shot put, 25 feet 6 inches and fifth in the discus, 74 feet, 5 inches) and by senior Rachel Yantzi (fourth in the hammer throw, 101 feet, 9 inches). Sophomore Cally Feldman took third in the hammer, slinging the object a distance of 107 feet.

The squad’s remaining first-place efforts came in the distance and relay events, as junior Laura Herr took top honors in the 10,000-meter run (40:11.94) and freshman Laura Harnish took first in the 5,000-meter event in a time of 19:26. Harnish also posted a second-place result in the 1,500-meter run (5:08.34). The 4 X 100 relay team of Houser, senior Tara Plank, sophomore Lindsy Glick and freshman Rachel Versluis finished first in a time of :55.84, while the 4 X 400 relay team of Houser, Yantzi, Versluis and freshman Lyddie Assefa finished second in a clip of 4:25.44. Versluis was also exceptional in both the long jump (second place, 15 feet, 2 inches) and the pole vault (third place, 9 feet) while Plank finished second in the javelin throw (85 feet). Glick was a fifth-place performer in the pole vault competition, clearing a height of 8 feet.

“Probably the most encouraging aspect of the day was that we had eight events for our women in which we had better performances than our best throughout the entire season last year,” Clark said. “Hopefully that speaks well for us as we progress through the outdoor season.”

Goshen will next host its lone home meet of the year on Saturday. The Goshen Invite is slated to begin with field events starting at 11 a.m. and running events at 11:30 a.m. Mid-Central Conference rivals Bethel College, Grace College and the University of St. Francis will compete. Olivet College will round off the field. Complete team and individual meet results will be posted at this site following the event.