IWU Women's Track Takes 2008 National Title

March 15 - The 2008 Illinois Wesleyan women’s track team has become the school’s first women’s national championship team, claiming first place in the NCAA Division III championships at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio, March 14-15.

The Titans amassed 30 points to win the title, topping second place Wartburg who finished with 27 points and third place Washington (Mo.) with 23.

Senior Rachel Anderson (Clinton, Ill., HS) won the 400 meter run for the third straight season as she set an ONU fieldhouse record with a Division III national best time of 55.66 seconds. She then ran the anchor leg in a come-from-behind victory in the 4x400 relay (shown in photo), finishing with a time of 3:52.21. Others on the victorious relay team were sophomores Ali McCoy (Irving, Texas, Episcopal School of Dallas) and Mackenzie Clemens (Bloomington, Ill., HS) and senior Brooke Halcott (Streator, Ill., Ottawa Marquette HS).

Clemens also placed third in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:14.74 and sophomore Amanda LaRocca (Palatine, Ill., HS) finished fifth in the 55 hurdles with a time of 8.34 seconds.

The IWU men’s team finished tied for 14th in the national meet with 11 points. In the finals, senior Matthew Harden (O'Fallon, Ill., HS) placed fifth in the 400 with a time of 49.62 and Segun Olopo (Chicago, Brooks School) was sixth in the 55 with a time of 6.37 seconds. The men’s 4x400 relay team of Harden, Olopo, Mike Conti (Itasca, Ill., Driscoll Catholic HS) and Noah Dunham (Pontiac, Ill., HS) also finished fifth with a time of 3:21.64.

As a result of their top eight finishes, all nine IWU competitors in the national meet were awarded Division III All-American status. See below for links to entire All-America teams.

The Titans are coached by Chris Schumacher, who earned national "Coach of the Year" honors on March 13. Go here for story.

Illinois Wesleyan’s other national championship came in 1997 for men’s basketball and the women’s track team’s highest finish was fourth in 2006.

Complete NCAA Division III Women's Team Scores
Complete Women's Results

Complete NCAA Division III Men's Team Scores
Complete Men's Results

Story from The Pantagraph, March 16, 2008

NCAA Division III Indoor Track All-Americans - Men
NCAA Division III Indoor Track All-Americans - Women