Harper track teams look to defend titles
After winning both the NJCAA Divsion III men’s and women’s track national championships — the school’s first women’s national triumph in any sport — Harper is looking to defending its titles in both genders.
Not so fast, though.
“We have had some important losses” said Harper coach Renee Zellner.
De’Larissa Morris (Streamwood), Karaline Banasik and Lilly Blackmon all played big roles in the women’s success last year.
No member of the trio will be missed more than Morris due to her versatility.
“She was so exceptional in so many events,” Zellner said.
While low in numbers (8), the women’s team is high on talent. Zellner will lean heavily on sophomores Erica Ogunleye (Hoffman Estates) and hurdler Jazmin Calep. Both took home individual national championship hardware last season, Ogunleye as a thrower and Calep as a member of the 400 relay team.
“We have to find ways to make up some points,” Zellner said.
Enter the freshmen. Zellner will ask five to contribute and they’ll play central roles in the sprints.
Beatriz Kiene, Shanice Morina (Lake Park) and Ashley Packard (Buffalo Grove) will carry the load in those events. Kiene will aslo head to the jumping pit.
Two wild cards for the Hawks will be a pair of multi-sport athletes in Brittany Walls (Palatine) and Elizabeth Tapia (Schaumburg). Walls played the first half of the season with the women’s basketball team before its season was forced to end early due to a lack of players. Tapia played for the women’s soccer team in the fall.
Walls will join Ogunleye in the throwing ring, while Tapia will lead the distance events.
Ÿ The Hawks men’s team might be even deeper than last year’s team, which won the program’s sixth national championship.
Gone are several key members from that group, including Jarret Austin (javelin), Xzavior Kimbro (sprints), Ruad Agoro (distance) and Mark Nieman.
The Hawks will be leaning heavily on distance runners to score points in 2012. Pablo Ramirez (Conant) will run the 5k and 10k distances, where he is the Harper record holder in both distances.
“(Pablo’s) running better then ever,” Zellner said.
Francisco Soto, the defending 1500 national champion, should add leadership.
A talented group of freshmen will help make up for some of the losses from last year’s squad. Palatine graduate Zack Gates will join Soto in running the 1500. Gates will also run the 800 meters.
Troy Cunningham (Conant), along with Gates, will run the 800 and 1500. Both Cunningham and Gates were members of Harper’s national championship cross country team in the fall.
Jumper Isaac Jean-Paul (Warren) will participate in jumps and sprints. Jean-Paul already set a school record during the indoor season.
Pole vault will be handled by Prospect’s Chris Young, and Rob Douglas will run hurdles.
“We have a really strong team,” Zellner said.
The NJCAA Division III national championships for both the men and the women will be in Alfred, N.Y. on May 3-5.