Monmouth’s indoor track and field team will compete on Feb. 29 and March 1 in the Midwest Conference Indoor Championships in Jacksonville, Ill.

Both the men and women have been working hard this season in preparation for the big weekend.

Luke Reschke, a junior sprinter for the Scots, was recently named the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week for the men’s team after his outstanding performance last weekend at the Wartburg Invitation.

The men placed in second out of three teams, and the women came in last. “Overall, we had a very solid weekend, and all groups performed well,” Roger Haynes, head coach of the Scots, said.

The Scots have been practicing hard this week as the team gets ready to compete at conference. “We have a quality freshman group on both teams. Many of the women will have big roles in the success of the team this weekend. On the men’s side, the group is very strong in all areas and will continue to step forward in bigger roles as their careers progress,” Haynes commented.

Reschkle placed first in two events and provisionally qualified for the NCAA indoor championships in both the 400-meters and the 4X400 relay team. His 400 time is tops in the nation with 48.93. Reschkle teamed up with junior Jacob Stott, senior Brad Gross and junior Aaron Daverin to win the relay in a conference-best 3:20.27. The relay team ranks 10th in the nation. Reschke also ran a 6.68 in a preliminary 55-meter dash to rank him sixth in the conference.

Sophomore Clay Staley was named NCAA Division III cross country academic All-American by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Staley’s time of 25:01 on the 8K course was a sophomore record for Monmouth and the third fastest time for a Scot runner at a regional meet. He also ran the mile in 4:20.60 in last week’s competition to place first.

Daverin performed well in the invitational, placing first in both the 55-meter (6.57) and 200-meter dash (22.51). The team of senior pole vaulters, Jonny Henkins and Peter Sprecher, placed first and second and provisionally qualified with identical heights of 16’6-3/4. Senior thrower Zach Wilson received two first place finishes in both the shot put (49’9-3/4) and the weight toss (60’4). Wilson is also a provisional qualifier.

Megan Clennon, a senior jumper for the Scots, finished first in the high jump with a height of 5’3. Freshman Morgan Leffel took first in the 400-meters at 1:00.94. Gloria Lehr, a sophomore, finished second in the shot put with a toss of 41’5-3/4.

Junior sprinter Shannon Turczyn received third place in the 55-hurdles and ran 8.55 in the prelims for a provisional qualifying time. Jess White, a senior pole vaulter, finished first with a provisional qualifying height of 11’11-3/4.

Haynes emphasized the highlights of last weekend’s competition. “Pole vaulters Jonny, Peter, Jessica, and Whitney Didier (freshman) all had strong days. Aaron ran well at the 55-meters and 200-meters, as well in the 4X400. Tanesha Hughes (junior) came off the basketball team and had a big day in the shot put and weight toss.” Hughes placed third in shot put and second in the weight toss.

The Scots have been focusing both physically and mentally this week in preparation for conference this weekend. “Overall, practice has been lighter this week, with focus on the details. The work is done, now it is time to prepare the mind for the challenges that lie ahead this weekend,” Haynes commented.

There will be some tough competition this weekend for the Fighting Scots. “At this time of the year you always have some lingering injuries and illnesses, but we feel those are things that force you to focus more on your own performance and not worry about the competition,” Haynes said.

After the Conference Championships this weekend, the Fighting Scots will look ahead to competition in Ames, Iowa, for the State Qualifier, or the UW-Stevens Point Qualifier in Stevens Point, Wis., which will take place on Mar. 8. The NCAA Division III Indoor Championships will take place on Mar. 14-15 at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio, before shifting gears to the outdoor season.

“What we are most interested in is the individual progress of each athlete improving, moving the success of the program forward. If the individual success comes, the team improves. I also look forward to many of our athletes maturing into leadership roles on the team. The leadership of the team lies in the decision making of the athletes, you never stay the same, you either get better or you get worse,” Haynes added.

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