2012 William Penn Men’s Track and Field Preview

William Penn University Athletics

Talent, both new and returning, is providing the Statesmen track and field team with great hopes of competing for a league title this year.

Head Coach Allen Friesen and his staff have improved the program in nearly ever conceivable facet since the team was fourth in the Midwest Collegiate Conference in both the indoor and outdoor campaigns last year.

“Last year, we finished fairly well, especially considering the low number of kids we had competing at the end of the season,” Friesen said. “Our goal for the offseason was to get more depth, which I think we did with a really good recruiting class. We added lots of young men from in the state, but also had success throughout the nation. I definitely think we gave ourselves a chance to finish in the top 2 or 3 of the MCC with the class we brought in.”

Sprints

Gabriel Green (Jr., Anniston, Ala., Anniston HS) returns to bolster the sprinters. A national qualifier in several events, he owned indoor bests of 6.48 seconds (55 meters), 6.95 seconds (60 meters), 22.11 seconds (200 meters), and 50.05 seconds (400 meters). His outdoor campaign was equally impressive with times of 10.65 seconds (100 meters), 21.47 seconds (200 meters), and 49.91 seconds (400 meters).

Returners Michael Pilcher (Jr., Eddyville, Eddyville-Blakesburg HS) and Chidozie Osuala (Fr., Lakewood, Colo., Iowa Western CC) will join a talented crew of newcomers to complement Green’s speed.

The list of newcomers includes, but is not limited to, Armand Thigpen (Fr., Park Forest, Ill., Thornton Township HS), Kenbea Walker (Fr., McKinney, Texas, McKinney Boyd HS), Romel Marzette (Fr., Richton Park, Ill., Thornton Township HS), and Jalen Wilson (Fr., Desoto, Texas, Duncanville HS).

“With Gabe leading the way, we should be really strong in the sprints,” Friesen said.

Middle Distance

Josh Roudabush (Sr., Brooklyn, BGM HS), Dexter Jordan (So., St. Louis, Mo., Forrest Park CC), Josh Molyneux (Jr., Deep River, Tri-County HS), and Blake Washington (So., Knoxville, Knoxville HS) guide an equally-deep middle distance group.

Roudabush tops the list after nearly securing a national-qualifying bid in the indoor campaign with a 600-meter run time of 1:23.97.

Walker, Brad Vannoy (Fr., Runnells, Southeast Polk HS), and John Roudabush (Fr., Brooklyn, BGM HS) will add depth in their first collegiate seasons.

“We had our best recruiting success with middle distance runners,” Friesen said. “Adding those young men to what we have coming back, I feel strongly that we can score a lot of points in the middle distance events.”

Distance

Returners Nick Reynolds (Sr., Riverton, Utah, Iowa Western CC), Cameron Pittman (So., Carl Junction, Mo., Carl Junction HS), and Quintin Marshall (So., St. Louis, Mo., McCluer South Berkeley HS) rejoin cross country teammates Deane Wichelt (Fr., Durant, Durant HS) and Nick Thomas (Fr., Salmon, Idaho, Salmon HS) to produce a solid distance team.

Reynolds led the squad with an honorable-mention all-MCC selection this fall.

“We should be a little stronger and deeper this year and hopefully that nets us some quality points at the conference meets,” Friesen said.

Alex Courtney (Fr., West Des Moines, Valley HS) will add depth as well.

Hurdles

Lack of interest prevented the Statesmen from scoring points in the hurdles last year, but a talented foursome looks to assist the William Penn cause by stealing some points.

Sam Taylor (Fr., Eddyville, Eddyville-Blakesburg HS), Trevor Volz (Fr., Adel, ADM HS), Tevin Brooks (Fr., Freeport, Ill., Freeport HS), and AJ Michael Rachford (Agency, Cardinal HS) are all new to collegiate hurdling, but their prep numbers have Friesen believing the transition should be smooth.

Jumps

Wilson, a highly-touted prep jumper, will have big shoes to fill as former All-American Javaras Thomas and national qualifier Royce Clay have both concluded their eligibility.

“We did not do as well I would have liked in recruiting jumpers, but Jalen is really good and should be able to continue our tradition of being at or near the top in the jumps,” Friesen said.

Throws

Returner Michael Fulton (Sr., St. Louis, Mo., Eureka HS) and newcomers Daniel Swartz (Fr., Longmont, Colo., Skyline HS) and Nick DiMarco (Fr., St. Charles, Mo., Francis Howell North HS) should give the Statesmen a chance to earn additional points in the throws, something void over the past few seasons.

Schedule

William Penn begins its indoor season Friday by competing in the Iowa State Holiday Preview, while the indoor slate ends with NAIA Nationals in early March.

The outdoor campaign will open March 31 at the Central Invite and will culminate with nationals in late May.

The Midwest Collegiate Conference Indoor Championships are to be held February 11 with the outdoor meet on May 4-5.

“We are going to a couple different places than we have in the past, which should help us compare ourselves to schools we do not normally see,” Friesen said.

Conference

Defending MCC indoor and outdoor champion Grand View is expected to retain its stronghold on the top, while St. Ambrose, Ashford, and William Penn will battle hard as well.

“I am excited to get this year underway,” Friesen said. “We are deeper with more quality athletes than last year, so I see us getting back into the title mix beginning this season.”