Elkhart Times

Cooper qualifies for nationals as Leafs start season in South Bend

Summer Cooper became the first Maple Leaf on either track and field team to qualify for the NAIA Indoor National Championships with her performance in the 3,000-meter run on Friday evening. 

At the Notre Dame Blue and Gold Invite, Cooper completed the race in 10:05.61, hitting the NAIA A Standard in the process. She finished second of nine competitors. Naomi Ross Richer placed fourth of nine in the same race, finishing in 10:40.85.

First-year Mady Axsom  made her Goshen debut in the long jump and high jump. She finished 11th of 21 in the long jump with 4.91 meters (16 feet, 1.5 inches) on her first attempt. Axsom was tied for eighth of 13 in the high jump, clearing 1.55 meters (five feet, one inch) on her first effort at that height. She was unable to clear at 1.60 meters.

Annika Alderfer Fisher and Mia Wellington represented Goshen in the one mile run. Alderfer Fisher posted a time of 5:16.32 to finish seventh of 12, and Wellington came in at 5:26.29 and finished 12th. Willow Kenneda started things off in the weight throw, placing 11th of 16 with a throw of 12.98 meters (42 feet, seven inches) and ended her night in the shot put with a 9.35 meter best (30 feet, 8.25 inches). Maria Maldonado showed up in the sprints - placing 12th of 23 in the 400-meters. She was just over a minute at 1:00.39.

Eddy Garcia was the lone representative for the men's team. He placed 15th of 27 in the 60-meters with a 7.31 second time. In the 200, he was 17th of 27 and came in at 23.51. This was Garcia's Goshen debut.

The Maple Leafs are at the Strive for Greatness Invitational at Indiana Tech on Saturday, December 10. 

Full Goshen Results

Women's Results
Event	Participant	Place	Out of	Result
Weight Throw	Willow Kenneda	11	16	12.98m
Shot Put	Willow Kenneda	17	18	9.35m
Long Jump	Mady Axsom	11	21	4.91m
High Jump	Mady Axsom	T-8	13	1.55m
1 Mile	Annika Alderfer Fisher	7	12	5:16.32
1 Mile	Mia Wellington	12	12	5:26.29
400 Meters	Maria Maldonado	12	23	1:00.39
3000 Meters	Summer Cooper	2	9	10:05.61
3000 Meters	Naomi Ross Richer	4	9	10:40.85
Men's Results
Event	Participant	Place	Out of	Result
60 Meters Prelim	Eddy Garcia	15	27	7.31
200 Meters	Eddy Garcia	17	27	23.51

Original source can be found here.