College track and field: Zellner, Harper gear up for nationals

One of the most decorated coaches at Harper College, Renee Zellner, will be making one last road trip with the Hawks this weekend.

Zellner, who was elected to the NJCAA Division I track and field coaches' Hall of Fame in 1997, will be leading the Harper men's and women's teams into action at the national meet at Howard Community College in Columbia, Md.

She has announced that this season is her last at Harper.

The national meet has been the site of plenty Harper success in the past. In the last nine seasons, the Hawks have won championships five times.

The meet begins Thursday morning with the women's heptathlon and concludes Saturday afternoon.

Harper brings a deep team, and one with some important experience at the national level from competitors such as Keyshawn Brown and Ali Gutt.

Brown, an Elk Grove High School product, placed fourth last season in his best event, the triple jump. He also excels in the long jump.

Gutt is the defending champion in the 800 meters (in which she set Harper and meet records last spring) and the 1,500.

In 2000, Zellner was named female coach of the year by the NJCAA Division III Coaches Association.

Zellner is also a member of the Region IV track and field coaches Hall of Fame, having earned that distinction in 2004.