‘Toto’ domination? Scots win at Grinnell

Release Date: April 27, 2005

MONMOUTH, Ill. — Sometimes, not being in Kansas anymore can be a good thing.

The Monmouth College track teams were initially set to run at the Kansas Relays last weekend, but a change in the schedule saw them head to Grinnell, Iowa, for the Dick Young Classic.

The Fighting Scots, who have several performers clad in what could be called red slippers, clicked their heels and brought home a pair of first-place team finishes. The men scored 176 points to easily top a 17-team field, while every point was important for the women, who totaled 134.7 points to slip past runner-up Simpson by 1.7 points.

Yes, a Monmouth track fan could say it was a case of “Toto” domination.

“That was the ultimate goal,” said MC track wizard … er … coach, Roger Haynes, of the two team titles. “It was a good accomplishment.”

Zach Barr must have seemed like a tornado to his competition, blowing their doors off in the steeplechase to highlight Monmouth’s individual performances. His first-place time of 9:18.64 was 35 seconds faster than the second-place finisher, and it lifted his national ranking in the event to seventh place. That makes him a strong contender to add an All-American steeplechase honor to the one he earned in cross country last fall.

Speaking of cross country, only two-time national champion Josh Moen of Wartburg stood between Barr and his second win. Barr had to settle for runner-up to Moen in the 5000-meter run with his time of 15:23.60.

Tim Frank finished first in the high jump (6’6) and Kel Bond won the 1500-meter run (4:04.66), with Anthony Welty taking second (4:06.59).

On the women’s side, Brenda Herrera’s time of 12.77 seconds led a 1-2-3 Scots finish in the 100-meter dash. Right behind her were Jessica Dollins (13.03) and Megan Hamilton (13.14). Not surprisingly, the 4x100 squad of Hamilton, Christina Reiner, Kila Cox and Herrera won in 50.43.

Cox won the 400-meter dash in 59.96, and she was part of the runner-up 4x400 team that also included Herrera, Erica Barnett and Jacquie Ouart. Their time was 4:12.98.

Also winning for the Scots was Reiner in the long jump (a personal-best 17’5-1/4) and high jump (5’0). The talented junior added a third-place finish in the pole vault (10’0).

Other seconds on the day came from Albert Greene in the long jump (21’10-1/4) and triple jump (44’8), Johnny Henkins in the pole vault (14’6) and Megan McKenna in the long jump (17’2-3/4). Monmouth’s 4x800 team of Bond, Adam Rodriguez, Seth Leitner and Kyle Schierer finished second in 8:17.80.

Thirds came from Tyler Rundle in the 100-meter dash (11.10) and 200-meter dash (22.23), Scott Heair in the 10,000-meter run (a personal-best of 33:39.65), Alex Stuart in the triple jump (44’6), Jeff Rebholz in the shot put (46’7), Peter Sprecher in the pole vault (13’6) and Jen Babos in the discus (129’4). Although she wasn’t in the top three, Babos also had PRs in the shot put and hammer throw. Another thrower, Lisa Curry, added a pair of PRs.

Haynes noted that many Scots have had some up and down – or down and up –performances over the past few meets. He said that “finding a measure of consistency in the next three weeks” is his goal for the team as it continues to tune up for the Midwest Conference Championships May 13-14 at Monmouth College’s Bobby Woll Memorial Field.

Men's Outdoor Track  |  Women's Outdoor Track