Indoor Track 2001 Preview

Coach Roger Haynes

 January 31, 2001

The Monmouth College Fighting Scots track program has produced two national champions – Eric Ealy and Charles Burton – in the past 15 years. If the 2001 indoor season were to end today, it would have a third.

Shot putter Eric Holmes currently has the top throw in the nation in Division III, and he’s just one of many talented individual performers who have the Scots’ sights set on not only a repeat performance of last year’s men’s and women’s titles at the Midwest Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship Meet but loftier accomplishments as well.

After recording convincing team victories last season at the MWC event, two Scots went on to the national meet, and both are back. Hurdler Scott Stanton went on to gain All-America honors during the outdoor season, while sprinter Constance Jackson earned an individual and a relay All-American honor at the national outdoor meet.

Jackson is in fine form already, as she obliterated the school 300-meter dash record last Saturday at the Midwest Challenge hosted by Knox College, cutting three seconds off the mark in the rarely-run race with her first-place effort of 41.72. She also won the 55-meter dash and placed second in the long jump. Weight throwers Tobias Dickerson (45’11-1/2) and Vanessa Armstrong (42’11) also notched school records, and Holmes’ national-best 55’1 shot put, which automatically qualifies him for the national meet, was also a school record.

"We’re taking a little bit different approach this year," said coach Roger Haynes, whose track teams have won 18 MWC titles at Monmouth since he began coaching in 1984. "We’re setting higher and higher individual goals, and hopefully it will come together at the end."

Holmes is early proof that the strategy appears to be working.

"Eric did a good job in the fall," praised Haynes. "He worked hard at what we call ‘body circuit training.’"

An entire group that could also reach its lofty goals is Monmouth’s sprinters. A tradition of Monmouth track has been its relay depth, and the stable of sprinters is once again full. The men’s 4x200 team of Justin Bryant, Matt Beverly, Amon Shelby and Randy Williams won at Knox in 1:33.91, while the women’s squad of Jackson, Elise Estes, Jill Hoops and Philicia Moredock broke the tape in 1:50.05.

"The thing I like best about Saturday is that we ran three teams in both 4x200s, and there are some people close to challenging for spots on the top squad," said Haynes.

Monmouth’s other winning relay, the men’s sprint medley, included Beverly, Shelby, Chris Lacy (who also won the 300-meter dash in 36.78) and Aaron Calder. The latter runner is part of a middle distance group that Haynes feels could be one of Monmouth’s best.

"That group could be as good as the group we had a few tears back with Dan Schisler, Jeff McCraven and Steve Hartman," he said. Haynes got an extra look at the athletes, which also includes Charlie Sunderlage, Bryan Bittner and Tony Miles, when he coached cross country for the first time last fall.

Other standouts who return for Monmouth’s men this year are jumper David Hodge, high jumper and former All-American Cort Mills and pole vaulter Aaron Walker.

Haynes is also high on newcomers such as jumper Ted Ross, hurdler Calvin Opgenorth, sprinter Ryan Moll, high jumper Nathan Gaskill and thrower Jeremy Landrie.

"Nathan Gaskill is going to be solid in the high jump and relays, whatever he does," said Haynes, "and Jeremy Landrie could be a big-time thrower before he’s done." Haynes added that Ross had a lifetime triple jump best of 40’8-1/2 at Knox, while Opgenorth was third in the 55-meter hurdles (8.20 seconds) behind Stanton’s winning time of 7.86. "Ryan Moll made the finals in the 55-meter dash, and he’ll challenge for any relay spot he wants."

On the women’s side, veteran leadership will come from some aforementioned athletes as well as pole vaulter Cheris Beaty, thrower Trista Neal and triple jumper Kara Kuhrts. Haynes is also very impressed by Monmouth’s middle distance group.

"Overall, our women’s middle distance will be improved," he said. "Elizabeth Altekruse, Jessica Heinen, Jennifer Latchford, Katie McGee, Wendy Thomas, Tricia Wasson and Lauren Wesolowski are all either freshmen or sophomores, and I think their work ethic and their belief in the program will provide the direction that needs to come first before the super individual accomplishments follow. Their effort is always like I want it, which is an unusual thing for me to say."

Altekruse, a freshman, especially impressed Haynes with her ninth-place effort in the 3,000-meter run at Knox.

Other freshmen who should contribute to the women’s team include sprinters Lindsay Childs and Shalyn Shirey and thrower Katy Healy.

As strong as the Scots are already, improvements will be made when basketball players Melissa Jones, Michelle Flaar, Tracy Nelson and C.J. Hollingsworth join the squad. Jones is the defending indoor high jump champion.

Rounding out the men’s team are James Amerison, Frank Clark, Matt Copple, David Dare, Courtland Davis, Vaughn Gray, Zach Hampson, Matt Hargleroad, Michael Jiggetts, Jason Kerr, Aaaron Kiddoo, Matt Lerner, Josh Lindsay, Oscar Scott, Cory Shook, Randy Terrell and Ken Williams.

Other women’s team members are Brianne Blout, Beatrice Castro, LaSharon Duckett, Maggie Semington and Meaghan Tobias.

The conference meet will again be hosted by Knox College on March 2-3. The Division III National Championships will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh on March 9-10.

Men's Track | Women's Track