Men’s Track and Field Ready to Run; 2012 Season Preview
Published: April 13, 2021
GREENVILLE, Ill. After a 2011 season that saw the GC men claim the number two spot in the NCCAAs, expectations couldnt be higher heading into this years Indoor/Outdoor seasons.
Aside from last years runner-up finish in NCCAA outdoor competition, the men also boasted six individual event qualifiers and one relay for the NCAA DIII Championships in 2011. Much of this success was driven by returning senior Brian White (Harvey, Ill./Thorton) who will again spearhead the Panthers in 2012. White had a season to remember in 2011, qualifying for the indoor championships with a school record in the 60M dash, while continuing to stake his claim on the teams MVP award with qualifying efforts in the 100M, 200M and as anchor for the 4x100M relay.
Led by 18th year head coach Brian Patton, and with an excellent balance of young talent and national level experience, the men will find strength in several areas. Along with White, sophomore standout Josh Garcia (Oakley, Calif./Freedom) again looks to build on his NCAA DIII appearance in the 4x100 relay and represent GC in the sprints on the national stage in 2012. Sean Kweifio-Okai (Melbourne, Australia) and Josh Gates (East St. Louis, Ill./East St. Louis) will keep the competition on their toes in the hurdles. Returners Anthony Ambers (Apple Valley, Calif./Apple Valley), Ryan St. Hill (Jennings, Mo./Jennings? And Bobby Williams (Alton, Ill./Alton) will team with the likes of Bruce Gray (Chicago, Ill./Leo) and Marcus McDole (Saginaw, Mich./Arthur Hill) to carve a new future for our sprint core.
A trio of seniors hopes to finish strong and much of our success will rest on their efforts. Tyler Sarver, a 510 senior from Cowden, Ill. is coming off a breakthrough season where he set a personal best in the high jump of 64.5. Team Most Improved and first year track athlete Matt Pollek (Menomonee Falls, Wisc./Menomonee Falls) jumped over 44 in the triple jump and 22 in the long jump. And Anthony Robinson (Litchfield, Ill./Litchfield) has been a solid performer in the 400M and will move to the multi-events and try his hand in the decathlon.
It is said that iron sharpens iron and man sharpens man, and the mens throwing squad, while fairly young, is sprinkled with enough age to make for a season of high expectations. Alex Wilson, senior from Leoti, Kansas, will have a new throwing partner in the javelin by way of California with junior transfer Jace Sloan. There will be plenty of competition on a daily basis with a talented group of young men in the shot, discus and hammer. EJ Fridge (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia), Josh Kuusisto (Show Low, Ariz./Show Low) and Darnez Stokes (St. Robert, Mo./Waynesville) will welcome an exciting class of freshmen throwers including DeMarcus Greene, Stephen Sullivan and Bryan Waugh.
On the distance side, Xavier Ortiz (Chicago, Ill./AA Stagg) will set the bar for the Panthers. After a consistent 2011 that was cut short due to injury, Ortiz still managed to drop his 5000M PR to 15:41. He will attempt to convert this success into even better things for his final season. Ortiz will be pushed by junior Ross Baker (St. Joseph, Ill./St. Joseph-Ogden) in 2012. Baker is coming off the best cross country season of his career and looks to convert that confidence to the track in races from the 1500M to the 5000M.
Coree Woltering (Ottawa, Ill./Ottawa TWP), Bryant Simpson (Fairfield, Ill./Fairfield) and Josh Dees (St. Joseph, Ill./St. Joseph-Ogden) will duke it out on the track in the middle-distance events. All have personal best of 1:55 or better in the 800 and will be supported by a strong cast of teammates led by senior Alex Wolfe (Clarklake, Mich./Columbia Central).
It has been several seasons sine the expectation level has been this high heading into a track season, states Patton. If the newcomers can transition to the collegiate level quickly, this looks to be one of our best years ever.
GC mens track and field will kick off the indoor season on Saturday, January 21 as they travel to Eastern Illinois University for the John Craft Invite. The squad will have their early season sights set on March 9ths NCAA DIII Indoor Championships on the campus of Grinnell, before switching gears to the outdoor season on March 23rd at the Washington University Twighlight meet.
