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GOSHEN, Ind. – A relatively unknown sport – racewalking – took center stage as an exhibition immediately before the start of Saturday's Mid-Central Conference Championships.
As crowds began to gather at the Eigsti Track and Field Complex they were treated to a spectacular performance by Goshen racewalkers Tina Peters and Laura Stoesz. The athletes quickly caught the attention and respect of the crowd as the Maple Leaf faithful cheered the pair on to a historic finish.
It came as little surprise to those familiar with Goshen College track and field that Tina Peters won the event. The three-time NAIA National Champion – twice indoor (click here for 2007 article and 2008 article) and once outdoor (click here for related article) – took the 3k race, which also included a competitor from St. Xavier University, in a time of 15:09.90.
With the time, Peters automatically qualified for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships May 22-24 in St. Louis, where the sophomore will attempt to defend her 2007 title. Peters – already the first Maple Leaf to hold three national championships – will be the favorite to get her fourth.
Peters' time on Saturday also broke her 2007 Eigsti Track and Field Complex record of 15:11.84.
The biggest surprise of the event and possibly the whole weekend came in junior Laura Stoesz. Steadingly improving under the tutelage of Assistant Coach Doug Yoder and the direction of Peters, Stoesz finished in 18:11. The junior's time was four seconds under the provisional qualifying time of 18:15 and will send Stoesz to St. Louis with Peters.
Coming around for her final lap, Stoesz had little idea that her time was on a fast enough pace. Yoder – stopwatch in hand – knew exactly what was possible and shouted at Stoesz to pick up the pace. Yoder was all over the track pushing Stoesz to the finish line.
And once Stoesz crossed that line – with a mere four seconds to spare – Yoder was the first there to tell Stoesz she had made it to St. Louis. The junior was literally speechless, hoping to simply break the nineteen-minute barrier. Hugs and high-fives followed as Stoesz grinned ear-to-ear.
The finish line became a congregating place as teammates from all over the track caught wind of the finish and came to offer congratulations to both Peters and Stoesz.
In the midst of their jubilation, the pair turned their attention to the track where the St. Xavier athlete was finishing. Peters and Stoesz cheered her to the finish and the three could be seen doing stretches and cool-down laps together for nearly an hour after the race displaying the unique bond between athletes in this unique sport.
For more information on racewalking click here for a video produced on the 2007 NAIA Outdoor Racewalking Championships with an interview with Peters at the end. |
