Maple Leaf Track and Field have strong showing at Nationals

This past weekend Goshen College Athletics had three female student-athletes from the Maple Leaf Track and Field team, participate in the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Sophomore Tina Peters won her second indoor national title and received All-American honors in the 3000-meter race walk. She finished well in front of her competitors with a time of 15:22.42, which was over one minute faster than second place. This win gives Peters three NAIA championship titles under her belt, two in indoor and one in the outdoor race walk last spring in Fresno, Calif. She is the only Maple Leaf in track history to be bestowed with this honor.

Junior Deanna Kronk also earned All-American status by finishing fifth in the 20 lb. weight throw with a powerful throw of 52' 6 3/4". This throw broke her previous school record of 51' 3/4”, which she threw at the Indiana Wesleyan Invite on Feb. 16.  This throw also allowed her to become the first Goshen College athlete to receive All-American status in the weight throw. Kronk also competed in the shot put but due to three unlucky fouls in the event she was disqualified.

The final athlete at nationals was junior Abri Houser, who had already been to indoor nationals three times in her collegiate career. Houser competed against 31 athletes in the 60-meter hurdles, in which she was ranked 17th. She finished in 13th place with a time of 9.27, which was just one spot off the semi-finals.  

For the third year in a row the Maple Leafs were among the top 20 teams as they finished in 16th place.
“It is very satisfying to have our athletes continue to perform at their highest level in a championship level competition,” said Coach Rick Clark. “We have been blessed to have individuals who are willing to work with a committed effort to develop the abilities that God has given them and excel at a top level of competition.”