Indoor Track and Field
March 15, 2012
Acayo, 2011 graduate, competes at NCAA Division I Championship
Peni Acayo, a 2011 Goshen graduate and long jumper competing for Kent State University, finished 11th in the triple jump at the NCAA indoor track and field championships. The Kampala, Uganda native missed the podium and the finals by two spots with a jump of 41’4¼” on Friday, March 9 in Nampa, Idaho. After completing her volleyball eligibility and graduating from Goshen, Acayo chose to finish her last year of track eligibility at a higher level of competition. She chose Kent State University because of the strong reputation of its visual communication design program and its Division I athletics. “Kent...
March 8, 2012
Race walker shine in NAIA indoor track nationals
You may see them walking at a quick and steady pace up on the indoor track in the Recreation- Fitness Center, sometimes walking faster than some of the runners. But don’t be fooled: those are some of the most decorated athletes Goshen College has ever produced. Goshen’s race-walking tradition dates to 2007, when Tina Peters began her streak of three consecutive indoor race walking national championships. That recent and decorated tradition continued this past weekend in Geneva, Ohio. Five Maple Leaf track athletes competed for the men’s and women’s teams. Four of those athletes were race walkers. Out of the...
March 8, 2012
RFC hosts three indoor marathons in one weekend
The fourth annual Maple Leaf Indoor Marathon, held on Feb. 25 and 26, brought runners together from around the nation. Doug Yoder, the cross-country and track coach at GC, played a significant role in organizing the marathon and also participated by running two and a half marathons for the occasion. “It was a great event,” said Yoder. “Everyone was impressed with our organization and with Goshen College in general.” He also noted that the marathon was a great way to nationally spread the word about Goshen College because people came from all over the country to participate. On Saturday the...
February 23, 2012
Mid-Distance leads track at PU
Two seconds. That margin would have been enough for a pair of Maple Leafs to qualify for nationals at the Purdue University Boilermaker Invitational on Saturday. Instead, Daniel Zelaya, a first-year, and Billy Funk, a senior, will turn their attention to the outdoor season. Both runners finished third in their races. Funk was the top NAIA competitor in the mile, running 4:24.64 and missing the standard by 1.44 seconds. In the 800-meter run, Zelaya came even closer to qualifying, finishing with a 1:57.64 mark that is within 0.3 seconds of the national-qualifying time. A trio of high-jumpers placed for Goshen....
February 23, 2012
Goshen College to host national marathon event
Runners from all over the country will gather at the Recreation-Fitness Center of Goshen College on Feb. 25 and 26 for the fourth annual Maple Leaf Indoor Marathon. Participants from 15 states, stretching from Massachusetts to California, Oklahoma to New York, plan to attend the event, which involves running 204 laps around the 200-meter indoor track. Doug Yoder, the cross country and track coach at GC, as well as one of the entrants, organized the event. “In my mind, it’s a big-time event at little Goshen College,” Yoder said. “I’m sure that the college doesn’t realize that, but it truly...
February 16, 2012
Records, standard fall At IWU Wildcat Invitational
Two school records fell. Two race walkers won their meets. And a high jumper qualified for nationals. In other words, it was a fairly typical weekend for Goshen’s indoor track and field programs. The national qualification and school records came on Saturday at Indiana Wesleyan University’s Wildcat Invitational. Sam Jones, a junior competing for just the second time this year, broke Kyle Laker’s year-old school record by less than an inch. In addition, Jones hit the NAIA national-qualifying standard on the nose with a leap of 6’6¾” that was good for first place overall. For the second consecutive week, the...
February 9, 2012
Maple Leafs hit road for productive week
On an evening when most of the Goshen track and field team was in action two counties from home, Maple Leaf race walkers continued to make a name for themselves almost 200 miles away. The majority of runners and jumpers on the track-and-field squads competed Friday night at the Trine University Invitational in Angola, Ind. As Trine does not sponsor race walking, a quartet of Maple Leaf walkers traveled to Cedarville, Ohio and competed in the Cedarville Collegiate Invitational. Despite only having a handful of athletes in action, the men were ninth of 17 teams in Cedarville. Jacob GunderKline, a...
February 2, 2012
Four national qualifiers highlight track opener
Goshen College’s men’s and women’s track and field seasons started off on the right foot last weekend at the University of Findlay Classic. With only a handful of athletes participating, the Maple Leafs had four athletes qualifier for the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships in March and also saw a school record fall in the process. The race walk has been a big part of Goshen’s success on the track in recent years. All four of the college’s national qualifiers came from the 3k race walk. Jacob GunderKline, a junior, broke his own school record in the event....
March 11, 2010
G.C. track and field make new personal and school records
While many students on campus were finishing up assignments and attending their classes last week, a few were spending time in Johnson City, Tenn. at the NAIA Indoor National Track & Field Championships, March 4 to 6. In the event with over 100 schools from around the country making an appearance, Goshen College left its mark. Finishing 16th overall with a total of 12 points, Goshen was the highest placing team from Indiana and also had two women receive NAIA All-American Honors: Peni Acayo and Tina Peters. On the women’s side, Rachael Baker, Acayo and Peters all put up solid...
February 18, 2010
Indoor track seasons underway
Despite the cold and the snow outside, the Goshen College men and women’s track teams are in the midst of their indoor track season. Following several earlier indoor meets, the teams had a pair of contests that took place this past weekend in Ada, Ohio and Marion, Ind. From the men’s track team, two members made the trek to Ohio this past weekend to participate in the 3,000-meter race walk at Ohio Northern University. This race provided the biggest news of the weekend for the Leafs squad as David Horst, a sophomore, qualified for the indoor national championships (March 4-6...
March 11, 2009
The record breaking nine
For the third straight year Goshen College can say it has the fastest walker in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. From March 5 to 7, the Goshen College men’s and women’s track teams competed in Johnson City, Tenn. for the N.A.I.A. Indoor Track and Field National Championships, setting three school records and six personal best times. Tina Peters, a junior, won her third consecutive 3,000 meter race walk national championship at the N.A.I.A. indoor competition. Peters’ time of 14:58.96 was better than her last year’s winning time, 15:22.42, and was a comfortable 23 seconds better than the rest of...
March 4, 2009
Running the distance for LaCasa
After four years in the making, an indoor marathon finally became reality amid wintery weather of snow and ice. On Saturday, Feb. 21, a mix of local and out-of-town runners came together inside the warm confines of the Recreation-Fitness Center to complete 204 laps (26.2 miles) in less than six hours. The first annual event is the third known indoor marathon in the United States. “I first thought of the idea,” said event coordinator and Goshen College head cross country coach Doug Yoder, “when I heard about an indoor marathon being held at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. I have...
February 18, 2009
Running for LaCasa: 204 laps, or more
After four years in the making, a benefit marathon for LaCasa will soon become a reality. On Saturday, a mix of local and out-of-town runners – ages ranging from mid-20’s to late 50’s – will come together for the first ever Maple City Indoor Marathon. It will be the third known indoor marathon in the United States. Doug Yoder, the men’s and women’s cross country coach, is coordinating the 26.2 mile (204 lap) race, which will take place indoors at the Roman Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center. “I first thought of the idea when I heard about an indoor marathon being held...
February 17, 2009
Tracking records and nationals
Competing in the Wildcat Indoor Invite at Indiana Wesleyan University on Saturday, members of the men’s track team set a third school record, while individuals on the women’s track team continued to position themselves for national competition. “Although the meet was used with an emphasis on individual performances for the Maple Leafs,” said Coach Rick Clark, “the women’s team still finished sixth, while the men’s team placed ninth.” Deanna Kronk, a senior, hit NAIA qualifying marks in both the shot put (40′ 11″) and the weight throw (51′ 6 1/2″) for the third consecutive week. “Deanna had another fine meet...
February 11, 2009
Goshen continues to break indoor records
After five students qualified for the NAIA Indoor National Championships last week, the women’s track and field team had another strong meet on Saturday. In addition to winning four events and qualifying in another five, the women’s team hit four more national qualifying marks and broke a school record. Goshen College’s all-American thrower, Deanna Kronk, a senior, led the way with National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics automatic qualifying throws in shot put and weight throw. Kronk won the shot put event with a throw of 42′ 11 1/2″ and placed second in the weight throw with a season best 49′...