Steve Nafziger | Echo
Windy conditions ruled the day as the reigning Crossroads League champion Trojans looked to defend their title at Marian University last weekend. The women's track and field team managed a third place finish in this year's competition after their first place finish a year ago. The men, coming off a third place finish in 2013, finished fourth.
"It was a solid meet for us," said women's coach Quinn White. "We performed really well."
Junior Elaine Schmeltz highlighted the two days for the Trojans. She defended her back-to-back steeplechase championships with a third win that included breaking her own school record. Schmeltz finished with a time of 11:05.3, beating the rest of the field by more than 10 seconds.
"Every time I step up to the start line, I get really excited about the opportunity I have to compete," Schmeltz said. "I'm glad I'm able to find my passion in this event and have the ability to use each race to glorify the Lord."
Senior Erin Price joined Schmeltz in recording her third straight Crossroads League victory. Price reached NAIA National Championship "A" standard qualifying with a time of 1:03.52 in the 400-meter hurdles.
Sophomore Haley White got her second straight win in the javelin, despite having to change her approach to the throw due to the wind. The adjustment moved her from fourth place to first place. The final winner of the women's competition was sophomore Katie DeHaan in the 400-meter dash, coming in just under 58 seconds.
A very strong Indiana Wesleyan team claimed the title on the women's side, followed by Bethel.
The men claimed three victories for the Trojans at the Championships as junior Ethan Evans and freshman Matt Hall continued to excel in the long-distance runs. Evans took first place in the 10,000 meter run with his time of 32:23.56, while Hall claimed victory in the 5,000 meter run, beating his opponents by nearly 30 seconds and coming in just under 15 minutes at 14:58.16, which was good enough to qualify him for Nationals in the "B" standard.
Crossroads League Athlete of the Week sophomore David Rodman claimed the third victory for Taylor in javelin with a throw of 52.28 meters.
"(We) put forth a great overall effort and had several notable performances," men's coach Lance Vandeberg said. "Our goal was to glorify God through competition and compete with intensity and purpose and we accomplished those things."
The Marian men claimed the title on their home track, followed by Bethel and Indiana Wesleyan. Taylor finished just six points out of third place.
The Trojans will be back to work on May 8-9 in Naperville, Ill., for the North Central Invitational. Both days are set to begin at 5 p.m.
Photograph provided by Coach White
