By GREG KEIM
The Goshen Lady Redskins captured third place with 81 points in the Northern Lakes Conference high school girls track and field meet Tuesday night at Warsaw.
The host Tigers amassed 149 points while Elkhart Memorial finished with 134. Northridge was fourth at 66, followed by Concord 59, Plymouth 54, NorthWood 46 and Wawasee 35.
“We had a fantastic night,” Goshen coach Bruce Bergdall said. “The girls really competed hard. It was a combination of factors. We are peeking at the right time and this meet has a way of bringing out the best in us.
“The atmosphere for this meet makes it very competitive. We build on that natural excitement. Part of it comes down to the reputation of the NLC. This is one of the top-notch conferences in the state and if that doesn’t bring out the competition in you nothing will.”
Goshen’s 4 x 800 relay of junior Lisa Bond, junior Jessica Schirch, freshman Juni Schirch and senior Laura Sorg placed second in 10:04.83.
“One of our more impressive events was the 4 x 800,” Bergdall said. “That time is about 10 seconds off their best time this season.”
Also for the Redskins, senior Heather Bronge was second in high jump (5-2), senior Karla Folker fourth in the 3,200 (12:22.97), senior Tana Hardy fourth in long jump (15-5 ), junior Jordyn Myers fourth in pole vault (8-6). Sophomore Maranda Reed finished third in the 300 hurdles (48.56) and fourth in the 100 (13.85, freshman Liana Yoder second in the 200 (27.17) and fourth in the 100 hurdles (17.10), Juni Schirch fourth in the 1,600 (5:38.54) and Sorg fifth in the 800 (2:27.13).
“We had a great night for personal bests,” Bergdall said. “It was a good night for the distance runners. Juni Schirch had her personal best in the 1,600 and Folker a season best.”
Bond, Juni Schirch, Jessica Schirch and Sorg were third in the 4 x 400 relay (4:13.71).
“We changed the lineup a little by putting Bond in the 4 x 400 and they ran a season best by three seconds.”
Concord junior Chloe Brooks was a double winner, taking the 100 (13.22) and 200 (16.45).
Memorial senior Jennifer Krumwiede won long jump (16-9) and high jump (5-6).
Northridge was led by senior Lauren Adams second in shot put (33-11), senior Hanna Mercer third in the 1,600 (5:35.51) and in the 3,200 (12:05.74), sophomore Morgan Lewallen fifth in the 300 hurdles (50.01) and freshman Lily Russo third in high jump (5-1).
“We had lots of personal bests,” Northridge coach Josh Fletcher said. “The team scored a little more points than we had been seeded. A lot of kids stepped up for us.
“The kids knew the position we were in coming it with a 2-5 record. We maximized our talent in this meet. We talked a lot about the tradition Northridge has in this meet. Not just about the school, but the pride in wearing the Northridge jersey. The girls showed a lot of pride tonight.
“Mercer and (sophomore) Autumn Elliott both dropped about 15 seconds off their times in the 3,200. Russo had a third-place finish in high jump. That is asking a lot of a freshman.”
Freshman Emily Seitz, sophomore Nicole Prough, Lewallen and junior Dana Christener were third in the 4 x 100 relay (52.10).
“The 4 x 100 had a big improvement,” Fletcher added. “We were seeded seventh.”
No meet records were set.
