Cedarville Magazine, Spring/Summer 2016

44 | Cedarville Magazine Koch Smashes 17-Year Record, Beats Olympic Trials Qualifying Time Carsyn Koch ’18met the U.S. Women’s Olympic Trials 800-meter qualifying standard with a 2:02.39 in the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford University on May 1. The top 32 runners in the event are invited to compete in the Olympic Trials on July 1–10 in Eugene, Oregon. The qualifying mark is 2:03.0. Koch’s time at Stanford is the fastest in NCAA Division II history, according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The previous DII record was 2:02.48 set in 1999. The Washburn, Maine, native previously had the No. 3 effort on the DII list of 2:03.58, which she established on April 16 at the Mt. SAC Relays in California. This spring, Koch was twice selected the USTFCCCA Division II Track & Field Athlete of the Week. “[Carsyn] has a special God-given talent and the work ethic and focus to compete at a very high level,” said Head Coach Jeff Bolender ’91. “She is humble, but at the same time is confident. This is so important as she has been thrown into such competitive races this early in her running experiences.” Koch admitted feeling a little shaky before the Stanford race. “I knew I could run with these girls,” she said. “No one had told me I was seeded last so, as far as I knew, the race wouldn’t be easy, but it was definitely possible to finish well in my heat.” She moved up from last place in the race by running the fastest final 400 meters in 1:02.81. “I went out with the mindset of doing my best and racing smart splits,” Koch said. “I was proud of all the hard workout days and discipline with my training paying off.” Cedarville Women’s Soccer and Basketball Welcome New Coaches Two historically successful athletic programs at Cedarville will have new leadership next season. Women’s Basketball Coach Last November, Cedarville University women’s basketball Head Coach Kirk Martin ’76 announced he would step down after 15 years at the helm of Lady Jackets basketball. One of Martin’s former players and current assistant coach, Kari (Flunker) Hoffman ’05, assumes the role of head coach effective July 1, 2016. “Our alumni will be thrilled with the selection of Kari as the next head coach,” notedMartin. “It’s important that our recruiting class is aware, and I’m confident she will do a great job in the future.” Hoffman was a freshman on Martin’s first team at Cedarville and helped turn the Lady Jackets into a perennial powerhouse during her career from 2001–05. She was the school’s first three-time All- American and a two-time conference Player of the Year. Hoffman has been an assistant coach with the Lady Jackets since 2010, leading up to what will be her first head coaching position. Prior to returning to Cedarville, she was the Director of Women’s Basketball Operations for two seasons at NCAA Division I Green Bay. “I have been so blessed to be under the leadership of Kirk Martin for 11 years as both a player and a coach,” Hoffman said. “He has taught me a lot about how to run a program in the right way and to promote something that we all believe in. I’m excited about the challenge.” Women’s Soccer Coach Veteran women’s collegiate soccer coach Jonathan Meade is the new head coach of the Lady Jackets. “His desire to serve Christ and see his student-athletes achieve success in all areas of life is very evident,” Cedarville University Athletic Director Alan Geist ’83 stated. “His understanding of other NCAA DII programs and what it takes to win in the Midwest Region will help build on the success that we have already had.” Meade comes to the campus with 16 years of head coaching experience, including the last eight at NCAADivision II Ohio Dominican University (ODU) in Columbus where he guided the Panthers to a 78-37-16 record. “I’m really honored and humbled to be given this opportunity,” said Meade, who becomes Cedarville’s third head coach in the 19-year history of the women’s soccer program. “It’s a wonderful place and I’m really impressed. It’s a growing and thriving campus that’s very alive.”