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North Manchester, IN — Facing off in its final intercollegiate meet prior to next weekend’s Mid-Central Conference Championships, the Goshen College women’s track and field team put forth a solid effort at the Manchester College Spartan Classic, notching 10 first-place performances to go along with a new school record in the hammer throw.
Gorgeous weather made Saturday conducive to Leafs’ dominance, and the squad quickly cooperated. Though the meet was non-scored by team standards, Goshen registered four more first-place finishes than any of the other three institutions competing. Only the host Spartans came close — six first-place finishes — as Goshen blew past Bluffton University and Tri-State University in a final tune-up for the approaching MCC event.
“The weather finally cooperated with us this weekend,” said Rick Clark, Goshen head coach. “We basically used this meet as a warm-up for the MCC Championships next weekend, and we fared well even though the meet was not team scored. This meet allowed us to get prepared for next week’s championships in a low-key, yet competitive meet. We feel we are more prepared now for next weekend’s competition.”
Sophomore Rachel Kronk appeared more than ready for the MCC’s following Saturday’s meet, as Kronk registered first-place finishes in the discus, hammer throw and shot put. Her 140 feet, 10 inch result in the hammer throw obliterated her old school record of 136 feet, 10 inches set last season, as Kronk is now the only Goshen College female athlete to break the 140-feet mark in school history. Kronk nearly swept Saturday’s throwing events, but had to settle for second place in the javelin, heaving the object a distance of 82 feet, 5 inches.
“Deanna has been very effective as of late, and she wants to do well next weekend,” Clark said. “This meet was typical of her recent improvements.”
Kronk’s three individual wins (112 feet, 10 inches in the discus and 38 feet, ¼ inches in the shot put) were matched by classmate Rachel Versluis, as Versluis recorded top-place finishes in the 100-meter dash (:13.25), the 200-meter dash (:27.34) and the pole vault (10 feet). She also was a part of the first-place 4 X 400 relay team, as that foursome raced to a 4:11.47 clip, just a shade above five seconds off the school record pace.
Freshman Rachael Baker and sophomores Abri Houser and Laura Harnish completed the relay team, with each of those athletes taking top three individual finishes as well. Houser won both the 100-meter hurdles (:15.48) and the 400-meter hurdles (1:07.90), while Baker took a first-place finish in the 800-meter run (2:22.24). Harnish finished second in the 1,500-meter run (4:57.67).
Freshman Whitney Turner capped off Goshen’s impressive performance, capturing third place in both the 800-meter race (2:35.77) and the 1,500 (5:00.19).
“Rachel was extremely competitive at the short sprints and the pole vault while Abri played a major factor by winning both hurdles events,” Clark said. “Rachael Baker had a nice run in the 800, while our relay team ran to a season-best time and picked up the victory in that event.”
Complete individual performances and results from the classic can be viewed by clicking here.
Goshen will now take the week for final MCC Championships practice efforts. The Leafs will travel to the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University Friday afternoon to begin the league title meet. Events will continue into Saturday.
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Sophomore Rachel Versluis 