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Monmouth storms to another Midwest
Conference track sweep
Release Date: May 16, 2006
MONMOUTH, Ill. — Wow!
There are other words – such as “dominant” and “dynasty” – that
could also be used to describe Monmouth College’s performances at
the Midwest Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships last
weekend in Grinnell, Iowa, but the “wow” factor of their individual
and team achievements was simply overwhelming.
It starts with the whopping 337 points the Fighting Scots men scored
to win their sixth-straight title. The victory came by a
jaw-dropping total of 253 points over runner-up St. Norbert. The
women claimed their third straight championship, scoring 214 points
to top runner-up Carroll by 92.
Individually, Alex Stuart starred for the Scots with a brilliant
all-around effort, in the process winning a pair of exciting duels
with friend and teammate Albert Greene. All season, the junior has
threatened the 47’7-3/4 triple jump standard set by John Weatherly
in 1931, and he finally bested it, going 47’8-1/2 to top Greene by
2-1/4 inches. The long jump was even closer, with Stuart’s
career-best 22’11-1/4 nipping Greene by less than an inch.
Stuart rounded out his amazing meet by taking first in the javelin
with a provisional-qualifying throw of 191’5, his third first-place
finish and third lifetime-best mark of the meet. He was an easy
choice as the meet’s Most Outstanding Performer in men’s field
events.
“I really wasn’t surprised by what Alex was able to accomplish,”
said MC coach Roger Haynes. “I was pretty confident he’d have a
strong weekend.”
When asked to name Stuart’s most impressive feat, Haynes wound up
mentioning all three. The javelin was thrown with a crosswind and
driving rain, the long jump was a foot farther than he had ever gone
before and the triple jump not only bested a 75-year-old standard,
but also moved Stuart into the nation’s top 10 along with Greene.
Another easy MOP choice was sprinter Dante Daniels, who won the
track honor thanks to a total of four victories. He lowered his
collegiate-bests in the 100-meter dash (a provisional-qualifying
10.73) and 200-meter dash (a meet-record 21.53), with the latter
time moving him into the top 10 in the nation.
“The 100 was an amazing race,” said Haynes. “Carroll’s Josh
Hurlebaus broke the conference 55-meter dash record indoors. We have
a race model for the 100, and Dante executed it perfectly. It was
very even with about 35 meters to go, and he ran the finish just
like we wanted him to.”
That allowed Daniels to nip Hurlebaus by 12 hundredths of a second
with the third-fastest time in Monmouth history.
The 200 had no such drama, as Daniels ended it within the first 60
meters, according to Haynes. His winning margin was more than half a
second.
Daniels was also part of relay victories in the 4x100 (42.11) and
4x400 (3:19.53), running a 48-flat leadoff leg in the latter race.
Luke Reschke and Tyler Rundle were also on both teams, with Aaron
Daverin running on the 4x100 and Josh Reschke rounding out the 4x400
team.
The pole vault competitions provided two more highlights as Peter
Sprecher cleared the automatic-qualifying height of 16’4-3/4 to
defend his title and move up to fifth in the nation. Teammate Jonny
Henkins cleared a season-best 16’0-3/4 to place second and remain in
the top 10 nationally.
On the women’s side, Jessica White set her new lifetime mark of
11’7, as did runner-up Megan McKenna (11’2-1/4). White is now ranked
in the top 20 nationally.
Haynes said both winning vaulters had very efficient, “high-quality”
days, limiting their misses. White, he said, had some very good
jumps at 11’10, and if she can ultimately hit that height, she would
vault to 13th nationally.
McKenna mirrored Stuart’s great all-around performance, as she, too,
had lifetime bests in three events. She long jumped a
provisional-qualifying 18’2-1/4 to place second, and she won the
triple jump with a leap of 36’11-1/2. Like Stuart, she was selected
as a Most Outstanding Performer in field events.
“Her long jump was pretty remarkable, as it was into a crosswind
during a driving rain,” said Haynes. “The pole vault was held
inside, and we were literally on the phone with the triple jump
venue to make sure she could get over there in time. She rushed over
there and almost hit 37 feet, which is a three-foot improvement from
where she started the year.”
Monmouth had five 1-2-3 finishes on the day, with one coming in the
100-meter hurdles, where Shannon Turczyn, Ashley Widdop and Markie
Bacon did the honors. Despite being ill earlier in the week, Turczyn
“gritted it out” and ran a meet-record time of 14.76 that moved her
into the top 20 in the nation.
Monmouth also had a 1-2-3 finish in the 400-meter dash, as
three-fourths of their national-qualifying 4x400 team flashed their
talents. Luke Reschke lowered his season-best to a
provisional-qualifying 48.42 to win the race ahead of Josh Reschke
(a personal-best 48.92) and Rundle.
Additionally, Kel Bond, Adam Rodriguez and Aaron Etienne swept the
podium in the 800-meter run, with Bond winning in 1:54.42.
Zach Wilson was a double-winner for the Scots, taking the shot put
(51’2-1/4) and hammer (a meet-record 171’7) and also earning an MOP
honor in field events. He didn’t win the discus, but his
personal-best throw of 147’10 was part of a podium sweep there,
finishing between winner Jeff Rebholz (a PR of 151’10) and James
Blair (144’3).
“Zach was very good, and he had some monster warm-up throws in the
hammer and the shot,” said Haynes. “I expect him to be able to get
to 180 in the hammer and over 53 in the shot this week, and if can
do that, he should be in great shape for nationals.”
Continued Haynes, “(The podium sweeps) are really indicative of how
hard the second- and third-place kids worked in each of the events.
A prime example is Adam Rodriguez, who really pushed the pace in the
800.”
Other winners for the Scots were Brandon Hurckes in the 110-meter
hurdles (15.61), Tim Frank in the high jump (6’5) and senior
Christina Reiner in the high jump (4’10-1/4). It was Hurckes’ first
conference crown, while Reiner finishes with two outdoor titles.
Frank has a combined three indoor and outdoor high jump titles.
“It was a good competition for Tim,” said Haynes. “He jumped clean
all the way through, and he has a very good chance of getting one
more height and doing well at nationals.”
Placing second for the men were Bond in the 1500-meter run
(4:02.26); Gross in the 400-meter hurdles (55.67); Anthony Welty in
the 5000-meter run (15:12.88); and Rebholz in the shot put
(47’8-1/2) and hammer (a personal-best 158’10).
Women runners-up also included Katey Vaccarello in the 400-meter
hurdles (a personal-best 1:05.75); Megan Clennon in the javelin (a
personal-best 114’2) and high jump (4’10-1/4); Jen Babos in the shot
put (a personal-best 40’0-1/2) and hammer (a school-record 136’11);
and Tanesha Hughes in the discus (122’9).
Reaching the podium in third place for the men were Josh Reschke in
the 400-meter hurdles (56.12); Rundle in the 200-meter dash (22.10);
Welty in the 10,000-meter run (32:10.00); Sheridan Ray in the triple
jump (44’3-1/2); and Evan Harrison in the high jump (6’3-1/4).
Other women who placed third included Valerie Daves in the
steeplechase (a personal-best 11:59.18); Kila Cox in the 200-meter
dash (26.56) and 400-meter dash (1:00.02); Sara Ingersoll in the
800-meter run (a collegiate-best 2:22.83); Widdop in the 400-meter
hurdles (1:08.95); and Jessica Phillips in the hammer (a PR of
130’3).
Also scoring points in track events for the men were Seth Leitner in
the steeplechase; Etienne and Rodriguez in the 1500-meter run;
Daverin in the 100-meter dash; Tim Meredith in the 400-meter
hurdles; Luke Reschke in the 200-meter dash; Scott Heiar in the
5000-meter run and 10,000-meter run; and Tanner Scott in the
10,000-meter run. Scoring in field events were Nick DeFrancisco in
the javelin; Dane Justice in the pole vault; Ray in the long jump;
and Blair in the shot put and hammer.
Other women who finished in the top eight on the track included
Ingersoll in the 1500-meter run; Jacquie Ouart in the 200-meter dash
and 400-meter dash; Widdop in the 100-meter dash; Lindsey Ditzler in
the 400-meter hurdles; and Erin Mann in the 10,000-meter run. In
field events, the rest of the scorers included Phillips in the
javelin, discus and shot put; Reiner in the triple jump and long
jump; Hughes in the shot put and hammer; and Andrea Emery in the
high jump.
A total of 45 Monmouth men and women posted points in individual
events, and Haynes said the women’s championship was “how a track
meet should be run. We had some individuals like Kila Cox, Jacquie
Ouart, Katey Vaccarello and Ashley Widdop run some really tough
combinations, but they had really quality efforts. Megan Clennon
showed that she can be an emerging standout, and Tanesha Hughes did
the same, with PRs in the shot put, discus and hammer.”
On the men’s side, Haynes praised senior Anthony Welty, who would
deliver the student address the following day at Monmouth’s
commencement. “We wouldn’t be where we are in many respects without
Anthony’s leadership and work ethic.”
Monmouth athletes, including Welty and several others, will now be
busy trying to qualify for the national meet. They’ll travel to a
last chance qualifier meet at Coe on Wednesday and will then head to
either Augustana or North Central on Friday.
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