1 June 1999
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, (309) 556-3206 or track coach Chris Schumacher, (309) 556-3624
 
 

Maalik, Koritz Named IWU Track "Most Valuable"

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Muneerah Maalik and Karle Koritz have been chosen as the "Most Valuable Performers" for the Illinois Wesleyan University women's and men's track teams, respectively.

Maalik, a junior from Chicago (Hyde Park Academy), took fifth in the women's 100 at the Division III nationals with a school-record time of 12.14 seconds. She was also an indoor All-American as she placed fifth in the 55 with a dash of 7.28 seconds.
Maalik is also part of the school-record 400 relay team, with its time of 49.99 seconds.

Koritz, a senior from Clinton (HS) who placed fourth in the 1999 national Division III indoor meet in the 55 meter hurdles, had a time of 14.46 seconds to qualify for the nationals in the 110 meter hurdles, but did not place in the top seven in the finals.
Koritz also had the team's best outdoor times of the year in the 400 intermediate hurdles (54.19 seconds) and the 200 meter dash (22.59 seconds).

In other team honors, junior Jason Dennis was chosen as the "Hardest Worker" for the men's team while senior Rebekah Clark earned the same honor for the women's squad.
Dennis, a junior from Prophetstown (HS), finished third in the NCAA Division III outdoor shot put, registering a school-record toss of 55 feet, 2 inches and he was second at the 1999 national indoor meetin the shot with a mark of 55 feet, 2 3/4 inches. He also had the team's best discus throw of the year with a distance of 166 feet, 10 inches.
Clark, a senior from Galesburg (Charleston HS), had IWU's best 400 meter time at 59.98 seconds, a school record, and joined Maalik on the school-record 1600 relay team.

Dennis was also elected as a captain for next season's men's team, along with juniors Harold Gauthier (Lynwood, Thornton Fractional South HS), and Steve Zimmerman (Naperville, North HS).

Maalik will also be a captain for the 2000 women's team along with juniors Andrea Gerdes (Eureka HS) and Jen Keeley (Colfax, Ridgeview HS).

Head coach Chris Schumacher, whose men's team was third and women's team finished fifth in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin meets, awarded letters to 15 men and 15 women. The letterwinners are, with hometowns and high schools:

LETTERMEN

SENIORS - Scott DeGraff (Fisher HS), Matthew Fasana (Antioch HS), Mark Kevan (Austin, Colo., Delta HS), Karle Koritz (Clinton HS), Brad Rubash (Antioch HS), Frank Tarantino (Tuscola HS).

JUNIORS - Chris Butler (Rockford, Auburn HS), Martez Clark (Frankfort, Lincoln-Way HS), Jason Dennis (Prophetstown HS), Harold Gauthier (Lynwood, Thornton Fractional South HS), Steve Zimmerman (Naperville, North HS).

SOPHOMORE - David Manley (Kingston, Jamaica).

FRESHMEN - Ryan Hastings (Gibson City, GCMS HS), Lucas McNece (Bethalto, Civic Memorial HS), Sean O'Connell (River Forest, Oak Park-River Forest HS).

FEMALE LETTERWINNERS

SENIORS - Jacqui Bliss (Towanda, Ridgeview HS), Rebekah Clark (Galesburg, Charleston HS), Crea Fusco (Freeport HS), Valerie Schroeder (Colorado Springs, Colo., Coronado HS).

JUNIORS - Andrea Gerdes (Eureka HS), Jen Keeley (Colfax, Ridgeview HS), Muneerah Maalik (Chicago, Hyde Park Academy).

SOPHOMORES - Denise Short (Clinton HS), Casey Twanow (Spring Valley, St. Bede HS).

FRESHMEN - Sarah Beyers (Champaign, Centennial HS), Sarah Kort (Evergreen Park, Chicago Maria HS), Carmen Owens (Charleston HS), Stephanie Reinhart (Tuscola HS), Cindy Uphoff (El Paso HS), Becky Wetzel (Tuscola HS).