Harper track teams showing progress
The No. 2-ranked Harper College women's' track and field team traveled to Naperville to compete in the First Chance meet at North Central College last weekend.
The Hawks' women's team had several personal bests, including Lindsey Weinberg and Anne Craigen in the javelin and Karoline Banasik in the long jump.
The team's best individual finish came from De'Larissa Morris, who took fourth place in the long jump with a leap of 16 feet, 2 inches.
"They are so commited to each other, they really define 'team' " said Harper coach Renee Zellner.
On March 31, the Harper men's team participated in the Troll Relays hosted by Trinity Christian in Palos Heights. Trak Myers took first place in three events - discus, shot put and hammer throw. Fuad Agoro took second place in high jump, where teammate Jarrett Austin won the event. Agoro went on to win the triple jump. Garrett Dorsey won the 400 meters in 49.80, and hurdler Xzavier Kimbrough placed first in the 110 hurdles in 16.32.
A week later at the North Central Invite, a host of Hawks ran to personal bests, including Tom Busse (Schaumburg) in the 1,500 meters, Tom Johnson in the 800 meters, Dorsey in the 400 and Kimbrough in the 110 high hurdles.
"More people have to step up," Zellner said, in reference to roster with fewer competitors than last year's squad.
Softball update: Harper College's softball team hosted Rock Valley on Saturday in a conference opener; the Hawks were swept in the doubleheader 15-0 and 33-9.
In Saturday's first game against Rock Valley, Harper sophomore Alyssa Collins (Propect) went 2-for-2. Freshman pitcher Becky Koeune (Palatine) suffered the loss. In Game 2, Becky Koeune went 2-for-3 with a double, Brea Blount was 1-for-3 with a double and Alyssa Collins went 1-for-2. Pitcher Chelsea Mora suffered the loss.
The Hawks (2-12) spent their spring break in Kansas and finished 0-6 there after two of the team's scheduled games were canceled.
Harper played three games in seven days last week as their in-state slate got under way. The Hawks lost to both Waubonsee College and Blackhawk Community College before traveling to College of Lake County and Elgin Community College.
Diamond notes: The Harper College (3-8, 1-3) baseball team opened its season at North Park University and dropped a 7-6 decision. In a 15-13 loss to North Central last week, sophomore catcher Jake Kane (Larkin) hit 2 homers, including a grand slam. Kane is hitting .394. About 48 hours later, freshman Daniel Lauria (Rolling Meadows) followed Kanes' lead, hitting 2 home runs against Oakton in the Hawks' 18-3 loss. Lauria is hitting .361, and the Hawks are hitting .294 as a team. Wednesday's game against Prairie State was posponed. Thursday's game agasint McHenry Community College may be postponed as well.
"We are hitting pretty good. We are not maximizing big innings," said first-year Harper coach Cliff Brown. "It's all about keeping within the process."
Since dropping a pair to Blackhawk, the Hawks have won three of their last five games.
All-American honors: Harper College guard Peggie Parhas has been named an NJCAA All-American. According to NJCAA.org, Parhas led the Hawks in scoring with 17.7 points per game.