Monmouth Men Win MWC Southern Division Championship

Thaxton, Haynes earn individual honors

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. . (05/16/2021) — While the Friday weather was picture-perfect, all the events on Saturday were hampered by pouring rain. When all was said and done the Monmouth College Men's Track and Field team had another conference title, winning the Midwest Conference Southern Division meet in convincing fashion. The Scots finished 20 events with 307 points, outdistancing the 88 posted by second place Grinnell College and coach Roger Haynes was named Southern Division Coach of the Year.

Drew Thaxton (Decatur, Illinois) won the Shot Put at 16.14m (52' 11.5") and Andy Bird (Hamilton, Illinois) took second at 14.69m (48' 2.5"). Thaxton also won the Hammer Throw at 50.71m (166' 4") with Bird second at 49.22m (161' 5"). In the rain on Saturday Thaxton took the Discus as well with a throw of 37.27m (122' 3"). With three titles, Thaxton was named the Southern Division Field Performer of the Year.

Reed Wilson (Normal, Illinois) posted a career-high 4.91m (16' 1.25") to win the Pole Vault with the sixth best vault in the nation this season. Jadon Nuzzo (Sullivan, Illinois) finished second at 4.40m (14' 5.25"). Wilson's previous season-best was 4.75.

Jonathan Oradiegwu (Richmond, Texas) won the long jump at 1.88m (6' 2") with Alex Cutright (Glenwood Springs, Colorado) finishing third at 1.83m (6').

Austin Pfau (Leland, Illinois) won the Long Jump at 6.95m (22' 9.75") with Darius Williams (Bay City, Texas) third at 6.70m (21' 11.75"). Pfau also took the Triple Jump at 14.19m (46' 6.75") ahead of teammates Clay Schulenberg (Orion, Illinois) and Maurice Greene (Gainesville, Florida). Schulenberg jumped 13.35m (43' 9.75") and Greene jumped 13.00m (42' 8").

Schulenberg won the Javelin at 45.09m (147' 11") while Sam Phillips (Cape Coral, Florida) finished third at 42.48m (139' 4").

Riley Dulin (Monmouth, Illinois) won the 1500m run at 4:06.04. He came back Saturday to win the 800m race at 1:59.41. Dulin finished second in the 5000m on Saturday at 16:03.11.

Cutright won the 110m hurdles with a time of 15.57. He also won the 400m hurdles at 56.83 with Pfau in second at 57.42.

Griff Morrill (Sugar Grove, Illinois) won the 3000m steeplechase at 10:07.46 while C.J. Bonifer (Columbia, Kentucky) finished third at 10:42.86.

In the 100m race, Patrick Shephard (Peoria, Illinois) finished second at 11.00 while Luke Ditsworth (Oquawka, Illinois) was third at 11.11. Williams was second in the 200m race at 22.33 with Shepherd third at 22.72.

In the relays the 4x100 team was DQ'd after a missed handoff on Friday. The 4x400m team of Williams, Pfau, Cutright and Vancil won in 3:24.25.