By: Justin DeWeese
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Mercy Chebet wrapped up Goshen's run at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday in the women's 3,000 meters finals. She finished 12th with a time of 10:38.03.
Chebet had placed high enough in the prelims for the event the day before to earn a spot in the final on Saturday afternoon. She had a 39.10 split for the first 200 meters and then consistently was running around 41.50 second splits for the next 600 meters. She picked up the tempo to about 39.50 seconds for the next 600 meters but couldn't keep the pace in the second half of the race.
Chebet finished 12th of the 12 runners in the final and was the third-fastest from the Crossroads League. Milligan's Ellen-Mary Kearney won the event in 9:38.57 seconds.
Cumberlands (Ky.) won its first NAIA Indoor Track and Field Red Banner with a final score of 58. Doane (Neb.) followed just 10 points back with 48. Madonna (Mich.) and Life (Ga.) were separated by one point for third and fourth place. Taylor (Ind.) rounds out the Top 5 with a total of 35 points.
For the men, Marian (Ind.) won its first team title with a total of 74 points. Cumberlands (Ky.) followed with 64 points.
Goshen starts the outdoor season on Saturday, March 22 at the IWU Polar Bear Classic in Marion, Indiana.