Anderson and Harden Win IWU Track Honors

June 4, 2007

'BLOOMINGTON, Ill.  - For the second straight season, juniors Rachel Anderson and Matt Harden have been named "Most Valuable Performers" for the Illinois Wesleyan women's and men's track teams, respectively.

Anderson (Clinton, Ill., HS) was the national indoor champion in the 400-meter dash and finished second in the outdoor 400 at the NCAA Division III championships. Her indoor winning time was 55.46 seconds and her qualifying time of 54.64 in the outdoor 400 set new stadium and school records.

Also at the outdoor finals, Anderson placed sixth in the 200 in a time of 25.25 seconds.

Also in the indoor national meet, Anderson teamed with junior Brooke Halcott (Streator, Ill., Ottawa Marquette HS) and freshmen Mackenzie Clemens (Bloomington, Ill., HS) and Ali McCoy (Irving, Texas, Episcopal School of Dallas) on the 4x400 relay team that placed second with a time of 3:52.21.

At the NCAA outdoor meet, Harden (O'Fallon, Ill., Township HS) finished second in the 200 with a time of 21.44 seconds and was third in the 400 with a clocking of 47.02 seconds.

Harden, who was the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Midwest region men's indoor track "Athlete of the Year," won the 400 in a meet record 48.69 seconds at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championships.

Harden also teamed with juniors Segun Olopo (Chicago, Brooks School) and Azizuddin Rose (Chicago, DeLaSalle Institute)and sophomore Mike Conti (Itasca, Ill., Driscoll Catholic HS) to place seventh in the 400 relay at the indoor nationals.

In other team honors, freshman Amanda LaRocca (Palatine, Ill., HS) and senior Mike Nicoletti (Lake Zurich, Ill., HS) were chosen as their respective squad's "Hardest Workers" while Clemens and freshman Mike Smith (Chicago, Leo HS) were the "Best Newcomers" for the women and men, respectively.

Harden, Rose and junior Lane Coonrod (Quincy, Ill. HS) will serve as the co-captains for the 2008 men's team while Anderson, Halcott and junior Mary Ellen Barron (Naperville, Ill., Neuqua Valley HS) will be the women's captains.

For the men, Olopo was an indoor All-American as he placed seventh in the 55 with a time of 6.47 seconds and junior Cortney Walrath (Peoria, Ill., Central HS) tied for sixth in the women's outdoor pole vault at a height of 11 feet 10 1/2 inches, earning her All-American status.

Head coach Chris Schumacher awarded letters to 12 men and 20 women. They are, with hometowns and high schools:

SENIORS - Jon Blome, Pekin, Ill. (HS); Nick Burge, Buffalo Grove, Ill. (Lake Zurich HS); Mike Nicoletti, Lake Zurich, Ill (HS)
JUNIORS - Lane Coonrod, Quincy, Ill. (HS); Bryan Duling, Clinton, Ill. (HS); Matt Harden, O'Fallon, Ill. (HS); Segun Olopo, Chicago, Ill. (Brooks School); Azizuddin Rose, Chicago, Ill. (De LaSalle Institute)
SOPHOMORES - Michael Conti, Itasca, Ill. (Driscoll Catholic HS); John Maloney, Glenview, Ill. (Glenbrook South HS)
FRESHMEN - Michael Smith, Chicago, Ill. (Leo HS); Elias Washington, Grayslake, Ill. (HS)

SENIORS - Megan Byrne, Des Plaines, Ill. (Maine West HS); Liz Chandler, Petersburg, Ill. (Athens HS); Mary Kate Gergel, Glenwood, Ill. (Marian Catholic HS); Krystal Jenkins, Villa Park, Ill.
JUNIORS - Rachel Anderson, Clinton, Ill. (HS); Allison Fisher, Oswego, Ill. (HS); Brooke Halcott, Streator, Ill. (Ottawa Marquette HS); Julia Varsamis, Morton Grove, Ill. (Niles West HS); Cortney Walrath, Peoria, Ill. (Central HS)
SOPHOMORES - Cara Downs, Pana, Ill. (HS); Emily Willenbring, Shoreview, Minn. (Mounds View HS)
FRESHMEN - Mackenzie Clemens, Bloomington, Ill. (HS); Kerry Devitt, Tower Lakes, Ill. (Carmel HS); Chinny Ekwulugo, Saginaw, Texas (W.E. Boswell HS); Emily Hagen, Burr Ridge, Ill. (Nazareth Academy); Ashley Heilingoetter, Fox River Grove, Ill. (Carmel HS); Vanessa Jones, Grand Forks, N.Dak. (Red River HS); Amanda LaRocca, Palatine, Ill. (HS); Ali McCoy, Irving, Texas (Episcopal School of Dallas); Melinda McNeil, Normal, Ill. (Bloomington Central Catholic HS).

CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206