Scots’ track teams have reloaded, seek to defend MWC championships

Release Date: January 21, 2005

MONMOUTH, Ill. — During Monmouth College’s ongoing dynasty in track, many Fighting Scots teams have raced to Midwest Conference titles in a blur, led by an All-American stable of sprinters including David Thompson, Keenan King, Heather Furrow and Constance Jackson.

While coach Roger Haynes will possibly lead Monmouth to more MWC championships this year, that march to victory will be at a slower, steadier pace. Distance races and field events have the new stable of athletes on a Fighting Scots squad that numbers near 70.

“Both the men’s and women’s teams have different make-ups than they’ve had in the past,” said Haynes, who has guided Monmouth track teams to 32 conference championships, including the 2004 women’s indoor title and a sweep of the 2004 men’s crowns. “We’re not as deep in the sprints as I’d like to be, and we’re heavier in the field events and distance races than we have been.”

Make no mistake, though – the Scots are far from slow. The program’s lone All-American last year, Blake Boma, returns after placing third in the nation outdoors in the 400-meter hurdles. Boma also won two races apiece at the league’s indoor and outdoor meets.

His training partner, former Warren High School standout Tyler Rundle, also appears ready to break out, and freshman Brad Gross (Galesburg) figures to be an impact recruit.

“Blake had an excellent fall season,” Haynes reported. “He trimmed up his body and is now lighter and stronger compared to his body weight last season. Maybe the biggest change we’ve seen so far is with Tyler. He’s been working out with Blake, and he’s down about 15 pounds. We expect them both to work at all three indoor distances (55, 200 and 400 meters) and do very well.”

Bradley Franks and Kel Bond, who were part of conference champion sprint relay teams, also return.

The women’s team has a tremendous sophomore sprint group featuring Brenda Herrera, Kila Cox, Megan Hamilton and Jackie Ouart. Herrera is the top-ranked MWC athlete returning in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. While she figures to do well individually, she’ll also team with the other sophomores, junior Melissa Pacheco and freshmen Jessica Dollins (Sherrard) and Erica Barnett (Annawan) to form a very solid pool of relay performers.

“I think our 4x100 and 4x400 women’s relays have the potential to challenge for national berths,” said Haynes.

An athlete who is already familiar with national competition is Zach Barr, who leads an outstanding distance group. Barr won two races at the MWC outdoor meet last year, and he earned All-American honors last fall in cross country. Haynes said the Roseville product is focusing on the mile this season, hoping to get his time around 4:10 or lower. The MC coach noted that while all other running events are metric, the mile will replace the 1500-meter run.

“Zach has looked very good at what we’ve done in practice,” said Haynes. “He will also train for distances ranging up to 5000 meters.”

Like Boma, Barr also has a talented understudy who has been training with him and is poised for a breakout year. Anthony Welty, who missed the last track season, “has looked very good,” according to Haynes, and will contribute at distances up to 5000 meters.

Bond and freshman Scott Heair (Sherrard) both earned All-MWC honors in cross country last season, and Haynes also expects big things from transfer Adam Rodriguez (Sterling) and freshman Aaron Etienne (Kaneland), as well as Darrin Van Nattan, who is returning from injury. Other men’s distance runners include Sean Fitzgerald and Ken Stachorek and freshmen Matt Henning (Glenbard East), Seth Leitner (Dunlap) and Kyle Schierer (Metamora).

On the women’s side, All-MWC cross country runner Tiffanie York (Delavan) figures to make an impact in her first track season, and several athletes with women’s soccer experience will also be factors, led by Abby Horneck and Audrey Bellefeuille and also including Ashley Gaul and Laura Turk. Joni Nelson and Carissa Young round out the strong distance corps.

While Boma is the class of the hurdlers, there is also good depth in that area with Brandon Hurckes, Jason Salmon and freshman Josh England (Stark County). Returner Lindsay Ditzler and freshman Brandy Whitson (Knoxville) will be the women’s top hurdlers.

Field events have been a Monmouth strength through the years, and the Scots return four athletes who captured MWC titles last year. Jeff Rebholz won the indoor shot put, James Blair took the discus, Amy Horneck swept the triple jump competitions and Andrea Emery won the outdoor high jump.

“Jeff had an excellent fall and is much stronger,” said Haynes of the Henry-Senachwine product, will be joined by former prep teammate Zach Wilson this season.

“They’re both 6-4, 6-5 with big frames,” said Haynes. “They’ve got the right kind of bodies.”

Two of the women’s team’s top throwers are currently tossing basketballs, not shot puts, but in time Haynes expects major contributions from Lisa Curry and freshman Whitney Shepherd (Galesburg). Four other freshmen will also throw for the women – Jen Babos (Somonauk), Catie Bartunek (Stevenson), Amanda Trotter (Lockport) and Jessica Phillips (Fulton).

The coach thinks that Albert Greene could be in for a big year in the jumps, and Alex Stuart and Tim Frank could also excel. England and Henning will also long jump.

Joining Horneck and Emery as jumpers for the women are Christina Reiner and freshmen Danielle Prince (Morris), Megan McKenna (Resurrection) and Megan Clennan (Aurora West).

An afterthought at many colleges, the pole vault could be Monmouth’s deepest event for both the men and women.

“We have a really talented group,” praised Haynes. “All five men are strong. The atmosphere in practice is really fun to watch.”

The returners, led by Dane Justice and also including Evan Harrison and Nick DeFransisco, will be pushed by talented freshmen Jonathan Henkins (Kewanee) and Peter Sprecher (Canton).

For the women, veterans Reiner and Kelly Caruso are joined by freshmen Jessica White (Galesburg) and McKenna, who have personal bests of 10’0 and 9’9, respectively.

Rounding out the athletes on this year’s Monmouth track team are Dave Abrams, Dani Briceno, Becky Dixon, Jeremy Irwin, Laura Jahn, Christina Moll, Nick Raes, Josh Reschke and James VanDyke and freshmen Samantha Dwyer (Glenbard East) Nathan Faith (Rockridge), David Gerth (Downers Grove North), Anne Murphy (Montini), Tracey Schurch (Orangeville) and Ashley Yeast (West Prairie).

Major events on the Scots’ indoor schedule are home meets Jan. 29 and Feb. 12, a meet at Northern Iowa’s UNI-Dome on Feb. 18 and the MWC meet at Illinois College on March 4-5. During the outdoor season, the team will take an Easter break trip to Memphis, Tenn., and the Scots will also host the MWC Championships May 13-14 at Bobby Woll Memorial Field.

“We don’t know much about what anybody else has added or what improvements they’ve made,” said Haynes, when sizing up his teams’ competition this year. The 22-year head coach, who will be joined by assistants Brian Woodard, Dennis Staggs, Charlie Sunderlage and Melissa Jones, did note that Carroll’s women, who defeated Monmouth at the outdoor meet for the first time since 1999, did lose several athletes to graduation.

“We’re taking a larger vision in our planning this year,” Haynes concluded. “We aren’t going to be ready much before the MWC meet this year. It’s a little bit different approach to training, in part because of our increased reliance on distance and field events.”

Men's Indoor Track  |  Women's Indoor Track