Lisle, IL — As Goshen head coach Doug Yoder pondered his team’s chances at the outset of the Benedictine University Eagle Invitational, it was clear that the variables were stacked against his squad.
For one, Goshen was only competing with five athletes, the minimum number allowed in registering an official team score.
Two, the race was six kilometers in distance — the NCAA distance for women’s cross country events — and a full kilometer further than what Goshen had run in every meet prior.
And finally, temperatures were in the mid- to upper-80’s at the outset of the race, thwarting the meteorological standards for early October in northern Illinois.
Still, somehow the Goshen College women’s cross country team was able to pull in a fifth-place finish at the 21-team event, garnering 108 points in using each runner available.
It was enough for Yoder to be thankful at the meet’s conclusion, as the Leafs continue to make the absolute most with the resources available this year.
“This was the second time we ran shorthanded this year, as injuries and other academic commitments kept us from having a full team compete,” Yoder said. “The race was longer than what we usually run and the course has a major hill that the runners crossed three times. The heat was also a big factor. All in all, we had a pretty positive showing given the circumstances.”
Yoder’s group was again led by junior Laura Harnish, who carded a time of 24:16.2, good for second place overall. St. Mary’s College senior Megan Gray narrowly edged Harnish for the individual title, coming in first in a clip of 23:59.2.
Sophomore Rachael Baker was next in line for the Leafs, finishing sixth overall in a time of 25:23.4. Classmate Tina Peters (39th overall, 28:38.3), freshman Renee Miller (52nd overall, 29:38.0) and junior Tessa Horst (54h overall, 29:43.3) rounded off the Leafs’ scoring — and composite list of athletes competing.
Goshen was without freshmen Michelle Miller and Maria Byler for the second time this season — the tandem also were absent at the Cedarville University Cross Country Open on Sept. 22 (click here for article) — pitting the Leafs without two if its normal top five runners.
“Laura Harnish ran another solid race leading early but settling into second place for most of the race today,” Yoder said. “Rachael Baker continues to improve, running strong for the entire race.”
A complete list of individual and team results and times from Friday’s meet can be viewed by clicking here. Yoder said he hopes that the team can use impressive finishes such as this in the upcoming Mid-Central Conference Championships in two weeks.
Goshen will next travel to Manchester College for the Manchester College Invitattional on Saturday. Meet time is slated for 11 a.m.
Goshen Individual Results
Laura Harnish (2nd) — 24:16.2
Rachael Baker (6th) — 25:23.4
Tina Peters (39th) — 28:38.3
Renee Miller (52nd) — 29:38.0
Tessa Horst (54th) — 29:43.3
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Sophomore Rachael Baker