Depth on display as Goshen track girls score twin wins

By GREG KEIM
THE GOSHEN NEWS

April 18, 2008 11:24 am

— One of Bruce Bergdall’s goals for the Goshen High School girls track and field team this season was developing more depth.
The Redskins showcased that by winning 10 of 16 events in wins over Concord 79-53 and Wawasee 112-20 in Northern Lakes Conference action Thursday night at Foreman Field on the GHS campus. Concord was a 92-40 winner over Wawasee.
“This is the third meet in a row we have not had to rely on just one group scoring points,” Bergdall said. “Our points were spread out and that is exactly what we are looking for.”
Since it was “Senior Night” it was only fitting that standouts Kaila Stevens and Rachel Hollinger-Janzen paced the Redskins.
Stevens won the 100 (13.14), 200 (26.57) and 400-meter (59.75) dashes while Hollinger-Janzen captured the 1,600 (5:29.20) and 3,200 (11:36.09).
“Stevens is getting close to the school record in the 200,” Bergdall said. “That has been a pleasant surprise for us. She is looking good in the 400. She beats her opponents in the first 100 meters mentally and physically by getting off to such a good start.
“Hollinger-Janzen looked really great in the 1,600 and 3,200.”
Senior Cara Kuric finished first in shot put (32-3 3/4), sophomore Jillian Zimmerman the 800 (2:34.07) and freshman Maranda Reed the 300 hurdles (50.20).
“Kuric led a Goshen sweep in shot put,” Bergdall said. “We had a lot of personal bests in both shot and discus. Reed and (junior) Nicole Johnson had good races in both the 100 and 300 hurdles.”
Junior Tana Hardy, senior Kelsey Peters, Reed and senior Steph Banakis won the 4 x 100 relay (52.41). Peters, junior Laura Sorg, Zimmerman and Stevens finished first in the 4 x 400 relay (4:13.48).
Concord winners were senior Breanna McGhee in the 100 hurdles (17.56) and pole vault (7-6), senior Heather Willoughby long jump (14-7), junior Megan Vail discus (95-1) and freshman Rachel Weeber high jump (4-8).
“I was pleased with our effort,” Concord coach Lindsay Yoder said. “We told the girls before the meet that the conditions were great so we wanted 100 percent from them.
“Vail had a great night in discus and (sophomore) Chloe Brooks did well in sprints.
“Goshen is a strong team. Hollinger-Janzen is a strong distance runner and Stevens is a powerhouse in sprints. She is an unbelievable athlete.”
Wawasee got seconds from junior Haley Herr in the 400 (1:04.15), junior Brooke Kelly, freshman Amy Walker, sophomore Crystal DeLaFuente and Herr in the 4 x 400 relay (4:24.76).
“Just coming off spring break we were hoping to stay where we were at or improve a little,” Wawasee coach Staci Weisser said. “Herr and Kelly had good 400s and the 4 x 400 relay took 20 seconds off its best time.”