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SEPT.
10 — Partial Squad Shows Big Promise At Defiance
Three
of four competing runners finish in top 15 with big meet
upcoming |
Defiance, OH — With only four
runners making the trip to the Defiance College Invitational this
weekend, Goshen head coach Doug Yoder knew that his women’s
cross country team would not have enough competing bodies to qualify
for scoring in the team standings.
That’s unfortunate, because even without its top runner,
Goshen was dominant in the 10-team invite.
Freshman Laura Harnish and junior Laura Herr led the way for Goshen’s
foursome of available runners — teams need at least five
runners to count for team scoring — as Harnish finished fifth
overall and Herr eighth out of a field of 99 runners. Harnish’s
time of 20:19.3 ranks as the 13th-fastest clip in program history
and seventh-best time set by a Goshen freshman. Herr’s time
of 20:36.4 was the seventh-best clip by a junior in school history,
setting a high standard with the Indiana Intercollegiate meet just
a few days away.
“Laura Harnish is growing up fast in running with the front
runners throughout the entire race today,” Yoder said. “She
was in position to possibly finish in second place but wound up
fifth overall. Laura Herr also ran well in placing eighth. Including
(senior) Rachel Yantzi (13th overall; 20:50.6), we had three runners
under 21 minutes. That is very encouraging at this point in the
season.”
Perhaps even more encouraging was that Yoder’s squad was
able to dominate the top 15 slots without junior All-American Petrana
Petkova, who elected to sit out the event to help prepare for the
Indiana Intercollegiates next week. Had Petkova participated and
ran an average race by her standards, Goshen would have been in
the mix for a possible first or second-place team finish.
“It was good to see how well our athletes performed this weekend,” Yoder
said. “Hopefully the conditions will be favorable next weekend, and we
can perform up to our potential at the Indiana Intercollegiates.”
Goshen will next run in that major event on Friday, as most Indiana institutions
will participate. Women’s race time is set for 4:45 p.m.
At Defiance, Taylor University’s Lolly York took individual medalist honors,
winning the event in a time of 19:04.6. For a complete list of individual times
and performances, click here. To view team scoring and breakdowns, click here.
Goshen Individual Results
Laura Harnish (5th) — 20:19.3
Laura Herr (8th) — 20:36.4
Rachel Yantzi (13th) — 20:50.6
Tessa Horst (63rd) — 24:25.5
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  Freshman
Laura Harnish and Junior Laura Herr
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