Track runs away with another win

by Ian Van Anden
Asst. Sports Editor

The Monmouth College track team got their outdoor season started with a bang. On Saturday, April 1, the team competed in their first meet of the season at the Washington University Invitational in St. Louis, Mo.

The men dominated the competition, finishing first out of the 15 schools that were represented. The team had seven top-three finishes, including two top-three finishes from sophomore thrower Zach Wilson.

Wilson, who dominated at the Conference Champion-ships at the end of this year’s indoor season, continued his hot streak at the April 1 Invitational. Wilson finished first and set a Monmouth College record in the weight throw with a distance of 168-10”.

Wilson also finished in first in the shot-put when the shot-put landed 50'6-3/4” from where it started. Wilson has left little doubt in the minds of his competitors that he is the best thrower whenever he steps into the throwing circle.

Sophomore Peter Sprecher looked solid in the pole vault as he cleared a height of 16'0-1/4.” This height was good enough for first place in the competition. MC’s other sophomore pole vaulter, Johnny Henkins, performed well in the event as well. Henkins placed third in the pole vault, with a height of 15’6.”

Other MC athletes with top-three finishes were junior Alex Stuart, senior Anthony Welty and junior Nick DeFrancisco.

Both Stuart and DeFrancisco took part in the javelin competition. Stuart finished second in the event only one spot ahead of DeFrancisco, who was able to capture a third place finish. Stuart also finished fourth in the triple jump.

Welty, who has been a consistent point getter for the men’s distance team, continued his winning ways as he captured first place in the 10,000 meter run with a time of 32:39.99. Welty also finished fourth in the 1,500 meters.

The men have gotten off to a tremendous start as they look to defend their Midwest Conference Championship for another year. The Scots have been the reigning MWC Champions for the past 10 years.

On the women’s side, sophomore Megan McKenna led the team on its way to a fifth place finish among the 14 competing teams.

McKenna had three top-three finishes, which was more than the rest of the MC team combined. McKenna had two second place finishes and one third place finish. She finished second in the pole vault and in the triple jump. Her third place finish came in the long jump.

The only other top-three finish was by freshman Ashley Widdop in the 100 meter high hurdles. Widdop also finished 10th in the 200 meter dash.

The women’s team achieved 16 top-10 finishes, which were highlighted by Widdop’s and McKenna’s performances. The ladies’ two relay teams also preformed well. The 4x100 meter relay team captured fourth place,and the 4x400 meter relay team finished an impressive fifth.

Sophomore Megan Clen-non had two of those top-10 finishes, one in the high jump, where she tied for seventh, and then also an eighth place finish in the javelin. Sophomore Jen Babos also performed well for the ladies, finishing ninth in both the weight throw and the shot put. Babos struggled in the discus, though, finishing 24th.

The Scots’ next meet will be Saturday, April 8. The track team will travel to Waverly, Iowa, to compete in the Wartburg College Select. Then on Saturday, April 15, the Scots will be in Macomb, Ill., to compete in the Lee Calhoun Meet. The Calhoun meet is the closest meet the Scots have to a home meet for the outdoor season.