Harper men's team aims for national repeat

Once apparently isn't enough for the Harper College men's track and field team.

Particularly for the seven sophomores back from last year's NJCAA Division III national champion -- the first in program history.

"They know what it's like to win," said Harper coach Renee Zellner. "They really enjoyed the experience and they want to do it again."

And Zellner said the calculating and figuring she usually does for what it takes to win a national title is already being done by her team.

"It's fun to watch them do that," Zellner said. "There's that pressure that we really want to win again."

Sophomore Nick Herron (Fremd) is back to defend his high jump title. Herron, who won at 6-7 last year, has already qualified for nationals.

Herron also leads one of Harper's strongest areas as where sophomore Roosevelt Dardon and freshman Darius Voss (Fremd) have also qualified for nationals in the long and triple jumps.

The throws are another strong point with Ryan Asta, Marcus Papa and Trak Myers qualified in the shot put and discus. Asta was third in the state discus (175-7) at Barrington last spring and went to Illinois State before coming to Harper.

Sophomore Steven Damhauser (Hoffman Estates) finished second in the pole vault and third in the decathlon last year.

Tim Hoskinson (Hoffman), Ray Richardson and Pat Grempka (Buffalo Grove) were on relays that placed at nationals. Sprinter Billy Buehring (Schaumburg) also gained national-meet experience.

"We have a really good team," Zellner said. "I'm really impressed with some of the areas that are stronger than last year."

But there are other areas Zellner knows need to improve for Harper to repeat.

"The distance runners are going to have to work hard," Zellner said of an area hit hard by graduation. "Hoskinson has improved so much from last year."

Jamal Roper (Hoffman), who also played basketball, is out for the first time and should help in the sprints. Grempka has moved up to the middle distance and Anthony Simone (Bartlett) should also help make up for the loss of two hurdlers who are ineligible.

"They've really performed well these first two weeks," Zellner said of the Hawks' first outdoor meets. "I can't complain with how they've performed."

Zellner doesn't have anywhere near the quantity on the women's team with only six athletes -- and national qualifier Ashley Wentzloff is battling illness.

But there is quality as distance runners Tabitha Thomas, Heather Cebulko and Brianna Mueller and throwers Claire Bitto and Vanessa Mensie have qualified for nationals.

"They're all multi-talented," Zellner said. "They just bond so well."