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Wilson, McKenna star at UW-Whitewater
meet
Release Date: March , 2006
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Zach Wilson |
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Megan
McKenna |
MONMOUTH, Ill. — When a Fighting Scot
athlete achieves a lifetime best in a track and field competition,
they’ve had a meet to remember. When they achieve lifetime bests in
multiple events, they earn the Performer of the Week honor from the
Midwest Conference.
Sophomores Zach Wilson (Lacon, Ill./Midland) and Megan McKenna
(Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) accomplished that feat at last
weekend’s Karl Schlender Invitational in Whitewater, Wis., earning
league honors for men’s and women’s field events, respectively.
Wilson uncorked the best shot put (50’6) and weight throw
(53’10-1/4) of his career, moving past teammate Jeff Rebholz into
first place in the league in both events as the Fighting Scots
prepare to host to the Midwest Conference Indoor Track and Field
Championships this Friday and Saturday.
McKenna went one better, setting new personal bests in all three of
her field events. She long jumped 17’5-3/4, cleared 10’6-1/4 in the
pole vault and recorded a triple jump of 34’4. McKenna is now ranked
second in the MWC in all three events.
“They’re both very consistent in their approach to practice,” said
Monmouth track coach Roger Haynes. “They prepare themselves well for
competition. Megan is a very dynamic part of our track team in terms
of her good attitude and effort. Zach just gets a lot out of what he
does and what he’s told when he asks questions.”
Wilson and McKenna weren’t alone in posting personal records at the
meet. Some of the other significant PRs came from Aaron Daverin in
the 55-meter dash (6.59), Jessica White in the pole vault
(10’6-1/4), Jen Babos in the weight throw (43’4-1/2), Shannon
Turczyn, who won the 55-meter hurdles in 8.66, and Andrea Emery, who
won the high jump by equaling her career-best of 5’-1/2.
Tyler Rundle added his name to the list of Scots who have
provisionally qualified for the national meet. He won the 400-meter
dash in a season-best 49.42, and Haynes thinks Rundle is primed to
go even lower at the conference meet.
“It’s going to take 48.90 or under to make nationals,” he said,
adding, “Tyler had an amazing workout last night. I think he’ll be
ready.”
Albert Greene is already a provisional qualifier in the triple jump,
and he also met the PQ mark in the long jump, leaping 22’9-1/2.
Haynes was also pleased with the women’s middle distance group,
especially Erin Mann in the 3000-meter run.
“She ran 11:23,” said Haynes. “In the past three years, she hadn’t
been under 12 minutes, but she ran 11:50 two weeks ago, 11:30 last
week and now (around) 11:20. That’s a pretty substantial drop.”
Other improved times were turned in by Kaile Schreiner (20:18.87)
and Audrey Bellefeuille (20:48.74) in the 5000-meter run and Valerie
Daves in the mile (5:39.82).
More noteworthy performances came from Kila Cox in the 200-meter
dash (27.38) and 400-meter dash (1:01.44), Dante Daniels in the
55-meter dash (6.60), Scott Heiar in the 3000-meter run (9:08.90),
Brandon Hurckes and Nick Long in the 55-meter hurdles (both 8.11)
and Tim Frank in the high jump (6’6-1/4).
Pole vaulters Peter Sprecher and Jonny Henkins both cleared 15’3 to
place first and second, respectively, and Daniels added a
second-place finish in the 200-meter dash (22.81). Thirds came from
Kel Bond in the 800-meter run (1:58.20), Tanner Scott in the
5000-meter run (16:17.37), Amy Horneck in the triple jump (33’9-1/2)
and Babos in the shot put (39’3).
The distance medley relay team of Aaron Etienne, Luke Reschke, Bond
and Anthony Welty ran well under the MWC-record time with their
first-place time of 10:26.33, but the group will not run together at
the conference meet.
“It was a pretty good day overall,” said Haynes. “We were consistent
in the sprints, distances and field events, and that consistency is
what we’re looking for.”
Men's Indoor Track
| Women's Indoor
Track
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