MC coach Roger Haynes, the 2007 MWC Women’s Coach of the Year, says it won’t be easy for his squad to repeat their respective titles at the conference meet Friday and Saturday at Illinois College. "It looks like this could be one of the closest meets in recent memory," he said. "It looks to be very tight, and especially tight on the women’s side."

Haynes, who last spring was named the Division III men’s national indoor coach of the year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, knows of what he speaks. During his 24-year coaching career, he has guided the Fighting Scots men’s and women’s track and field and cross country teams to a combined 45 conference championships. He has coached five national champions in track and field including three in the last three years.

The veteran coach may have to work his magic at this weekend’s championships in Jacksonville, Ill. The Scots lost six MWC Performers of the Year to graduation, but have reloaded with the return of four All-Americans. The men have been crowned champs at 12 of the last 13 conference meets and hope to continue their dominance behind senior pole-vaulters Peter Sprecher and Jonny Henkins. The duo broke the MWC record last year with the exact same effort (16’9-1/2") and again are tied for the top rank entering this year’s championship meet (16’7-1/2"). Also returning is three-time conference champion Zach Wilson (weight throw (2), shot put) and junior Luke Reschke, who owns the nation’s top time in the 400-meter dash.

The Scots’ women will be led by four returning champions, including the two-time defending weight throw and shot put champ, senior Jenny Babos. Junior Shannon Turczyn, who set the MWC record a year ago (8.43), will also shoot for a three-peat in the 55-meter hurdles. All-American senior Jessica White looks to continue to her legacy as the conference’s top pole vaulter, while senior Megan Clennon attempts to repeat as the league high jump champion.

Haynes expects stiff competition on the men’s side from Illinois College and St. Norbert. IC returns long jump champion Donald Jackson. The sophomore will also to be a threat to take home titles in the 55-, 200- and 400-meter dashes. Some of Jackson’s biggest competition will come from his own teammates, including sophomore Joe Simmons, who holds the MWC’s second-best effort in the long jump, and senior Antwan Byrd (55m, 200m). The Green Knights boast defending 5,000-meter run champ Jeff Pentek who is also a 3,000-meter run contender in his senior season. Sophomore Paul Leeman enters atop the rankings in the triple jump, a spot he has also held in the high jump as well during this season.

On the women’s side, Haynes says to watch out for Carroll and St. Norbert. Carroll is paced by eight-time conference champion, senior Erin Kelley. Kelley has twice broken the MWC record in the 800-meter dash and mile run. Teammate, junior Melissa Roesch, could three-peat as MWC champion in the 55- and 200-meter dash. St. Norbert junior sprinter Ashley Graybill enters as the favorite in the 200- and 400-meter dashes, while sophomore Jenny Scherer will contend for titles in all three distance events. Senior Melissa Fabry should challenge in the 55-meter hurdles, long jump, and triple jump for St. Norbert.

Haynes, is cautiously optimistic about the Scots chances at defending their team titles. "We’ve improved, but we’ve still got some spots to fill in," he said. "We’ve still got to make some decisions on relays and where to position our distance runners, but I feel better prepared now than a few weeks ago."

Prepared, they are.

Compete, they must.

Defend, they might.

Men's Indoor Track  |  Women's Indoor Track