Goshen College cross-country athletes excelled last Friday at the Gans Creek Classic, held in Columbia, Missouri. The team showed up to the meet in full force, achieving impressive times in the process. 

The coaches decided to race at this meet because they ‘wanted the experience on the nationals course.

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Starring for the women’s team was none other than Mercy Chebet, a senior nursing major. Chebet ran a 22:17.5 in the 6k race, placing her 30th overall out of 307 athletes. This time broke her previous 6k best — and school record — in style. Chebet said, “I was happy with my performance and I believe that there is always room for improvement.” 

Chebet’s achievement led her to be named the Everence Student-Athlete of the Week. She said that she was nervous but reminded herself to “go out there and be focused, go run confidently.” Chebet expressed gratitude to her coaches and teammates, saying, “They are the ones who really make me good, if not for them I wouldn’t be where I am now.” 

Mathew Keitany, a junior nursing major, ran the 8k in 24:37.4, setting a new school record and placing him 15th out of 389 athletes. His success earned him the Crossroads League Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week, the second time he has held the status this year. Keitany called the meet “an exciting if not tremendous moment to showcase yourself.”

Also  running the 8k was Anthony Roberts, a junior exercise science major, who placed 51st, running a 25:14.3 and breaking his own personal record. Roberts spoke on his aim at the starting line, to “put a lot more into finishing strong in the race.” 

Roberts attributes his success to both Coach Rustin Nyce and Coach Lisa Voyles. He referred to the coaching pair as “both smart, like-minded coaches.” Roberts also spoke of the “great camaraderie” with his fellow cross-country athletes. 

The group was also joined by Stephany Claudio, a senior psychology major. Claudio also had an impressive run, producing a time of 23:12.5, which placed her in 69th. She described the initial feeling of “a lot of nerves but also a lot of excitement.” Claudio said that she could not have achieved this personal record without advice from her coaches. “They were pushing us to be uncomfortable in the race, from start to finish.”

Nyce, speaking on Voyles’ contributions, said, “Coach Lisa has brought lots of things that have added to our training.” 

Claudio also spoke on how the team was ready to “show them what we can do” and the cross-country team did exactly that. She said, “the trip definitely made the team a lot closer.”

In an interview with Coach Nyce, he said, “We had 17 people race and almost all of them ran their personal best.” The coaches decided to race at this particular meet because they “wanted the experience on the nationals course.”