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APR.
27 — Goshen Makes Positive Moves In Off-Season
Program
signs trio of stars with talent to push squad to upper
echelon of MCC |
Goshen, IN — With the two-time
defending Mid-Central Conference Champion returning next fall and
a strong supporting cast improving by the day, Goshen College women’s
cross country coach Doug Yoder announced a trio of signees that
he believes has a chance to push the program to new heights.
Yoder announced Thursday that 2006 Fremont High School (Angola,
IN) graduate Rachael Baker, 2006 Yellow Springs High School (Yellow
Springs, OH) graduate Tina Peters and 2006 Warren Central High
School (Indianapolis, IN) graduate Whitney Turner all signed letters
of intent to attend and run cross country at Goshen College beginning
in the fall of 2006, possibly giving the Leafs the deepest and
most talent-laden class in recent memory.
“We couldn’t be happier with the group of athletes
that we have signed thus far,” Yoder said Thursday. “This
group has the chance to provide further team depth in the quest
to be
one of the top teams in the MCC. All of these young ladies are
outstanding both athletically and academically. It really is a
very good class for us as an institution.”
Leading the way in the signings was Peters, the 2006 National High
School Race Walking Champion. Planning to pioneer the sport once
at Goshen, Peters captured the national title at the Nike Indoor
Nationals in Maryland on Mar. 11, beating a field of 21 other athletes.
She finished the one-mile race in a time of 7:36.13, adding to
her growing list of accomplishments in the sport. An All-American
at the National Junior Olympic Championships for the last nine
years, Peters was the National Junior Olympic Champion
in 2005 and was a member of the USA Junior Race Walking Team from
2003-2005. Peters finished third at the USATF Junior Nationals
in 2005, and becomes Goshen’s first race walker — though
she will also compete in all cross country events as a talented
runner. Peters led her high school cross country team in all four
years, being named the Yellow Springs MVP each season while qualifying
for regionals as a freshman, junior and senior.
“Tina Peters brings a whole new dimension to the Goshen College
distance program,” Yoder said. “She is a national champion
race walker and will compete in the race walk for the track and
field team once at Goshen. She also brings talent to the cross
county team that stems from her race walking training. She has
made several visits to Goshen and already has a good relationship
with many of the team members. We’re excited to have her
on board.”
In addition to her race walking and cross country prowess, Peters
excelled in track and field events as well, winning the district
championship in the 1,600-meter run as a junior and making the
all-conference team in each of her four high school years. An outstanding
student — Peters ranks fourth in her class of 50 students
and has produced an incredible 4.067 GPA in her high school tenure — Peters
said she plans to major in physics once at Goshen.
Baker and Turner bring a multitude of talents as well to the program,
as both competed in cross country and track during their high school
campaigns. Turner brings impressive personal bests to Yoder’s
bunch, boasting a 15:58 clip in the 4K and an impressive 5:26 in
the 1,600-meter run. Like Peters, Turner will compete in both cross
country and track once at Goshen.
“Whitney is another great addition to an already outstanding
incoming first-year group for next year,” Yoder said. “She
will definitely be in our top five group and will again add to
the necessary
depth to be competitive in the MCC and vying for a spot at nationals.
Whitney is a very hard worker and is very dedicated to her training.”
An outstanding student, Turner was the recipient of her high school
teams’ top GPA award in both cross country and track, earning
all-sectional and all-regional accolades in cross country. She
was a member of the all-county cross country team, and took home
Warren Central’s Mental Attitude Award winner following her
senior season. Yoder said that Turner plans to pursue studies in
nursing once at Goshen.
Baker, a three-time All-North East Corner Conference performer
in both cross country and track at Fremont, ushers in even more
potential to Yoder’s unit in the fall. A conference champ
in the 1,600-meter run, Baker boasts personal best times of 16:24
in the 4K and 5:31.7 in the 1,600, giving Goshen another multi-talented
athlete.
“We feel Rachael will mature athletically at the college
level and will contribute immediately to our team,” Yoder
said. “Rachael
has the potential to be one of our top five runners in cross country
and will contribute to our goal of developing one of the top teams
in the league. In track she has proven that she can be a top performer
and will help us build depth in the distance events.”
Baker was a two-time MVP for her Fremont cross country team, and
posted Honor Roll academic results in each of her four high school
years. Baker was a member of the National Honor Society and was
president of both the art club and student arts club at Fremont.
Baker said she plans to study elementary education once at Goshen,
with a desire to eventually join the Peace Corps.
“This group is one that really fits with both our school
and our team,” Yoder said. “I know that the returning
cross country team members and myself are really looking forward
to these
three talented individuals joining our team next year.”
Check back to this website for continual off-season news and recruiting
updates. To contact Doug Yoder, call him at (574) 535-7495 or click
here to send him an email.
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Rachael
Baker
