Over the weekend, our beloved track and field team opened its season in Findlay, Ohio, participating in the Findlay Classic. Since this was the first meet of the year, it was hard to know what to expect from the athletes going into the event. Coach Doug Yoder said the meet would be used as a measuring stick so see how the team compares to other teams.
“This is an early competition so we use it as a measure to see how our training has gone and to show where we need to head as the season progresses. We are taking a small group to this meet. I expect that there will be some athletes that will qualify for the NAIA Indoor Nationals meet this weekend,” he said before the event.That prediction proved to be true. Race walkers Mitchell Brickson (senior), Kolton Nay (senior), Brad Sandlin (senior), Abby Dunn (junior) and Kayla Gray (sophomore) all qualified for the NAIA Indoor National championship meet that will be held in Geneva, Ohio during the first week of March. The race walking team was not the only bright spot for the Leafs.
According to Coach Yoder, senior Mollie Nebel, who was named GC’s Athlete of the Week for the past week, broke a 17-year-old school indoor track record in the 400 meter run with her time of 1:03.13. Nebel finished seventh in the race overall and second among NAIA athletes. Sophomore Ryan Smith placed 1st in the mile run with a time of 4:27.36. Smith was the only Maple Leaf to win an event at the Findlay Classic. Coach Yoder also mentioned that Jill Steinmetz ran well in the 600 meter run. Senior Thomas Leonard finished third in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump.
A complete list of Goshen finishers can be found on GoLeafs.net. The Leafs’ track and field team looks to continue its success at Trine University on Friday.
