Scots Cross Country Teams Expect to Make Run at MWC Title

by Dan Nolan

Monmouth, IL (08/26/2019) — Returning depth on the women's team and a "wide open" field on the men's side has Jon Welty's cross country teams at Monmouth College primed for a run at a Midwest Conference title.

A two-time all-conference performer, senior Caitlyn Allen (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) returns to the fray after an injury forced her to miss last year's women's MWC meet. She'll rejoin a trio of All-MWC runners from last season's runner-up squad - junior Julia Sterr (Clinton, Ill./Clinton) and sophomores Arika Hofmann (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth-Roseville) and Caroline Young (Chicago, Ill./William H. Taft). Another sophomore - Mik Moore (Washington, Ill./Deer Creek-Mackinaw) - narrowly missed all-MWC honors a year ago, giving Welty five solid contenders for league hardware.

"The women had a great season last year and we return a large core group from that team," reported Welty. "I'm excited to see what they can do and build from last year. Caitlyn's a strong runner and it's exciting to get her back. Julia, Caroline and Arika had great track seasons. Caroline really took off and made herself into a top contender in the longer distance races. Julia has put herself in the conversation and Arika had a great year of progression. Mik just missed a top 20 league finish last year and that's really motivated her. The entire group is strong, but strong in different ways. Some have great endurance and others great speed. Each pushes the group to be strong in all facets."

The Scots continue their depth with a bevy of solid returners including junior Kirsten Menke (Peoria, Ill./Norte Dame) and sophomores Ezzie Baltierra-Chavez (Denver, Colo./South) and Kara Fisher (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth-Roseville).

"The beauty of this group is the ability to have a different top finisher every race," praised Welty. "They're very interchangeable. If someone isn't at 100 percent that day, we've got six or seven others who can step up and fill that void. The women set a high goal to claim the program's highest number of all-conference runners. We've had five three times, once in 2012 when we won the conference title. It's no easy feat to be that good at the conference meet, but it's a good goal to have. We'll have to put in the daily work and build every day. It's a case of trusting the training process. Fortunately, we've got a group of women that love to work and train hard each day."

Welty's men might not return as many all-conference performers as the women's team, but the goal is similar in what the fifth-year coach calls a "wide open" conference race.

"Of last year's top 20 runners, only seven return," explained Welty of the MWC field. "You never know what the other teams have brought in, but on the surface, it looks like a new landscape. I think it's really a wide open field. It will take a group that's committed to the process to be good and challenge for the top spot."

Sophomore Riley Dulin (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth-Roseville) took all-league honors a year ago and headlines the Scots' returners. Senior Tanner Heiple (Pekin, Ill./Pekin) just missed a top 20 finish last season and may be ready to get over the hump in 2019. Welty is also bolstered by Dulin and junior Griff Morrill (Sugar Grove, Ill./West Aurora) spending their summer training together.

"Riley and Griff came into practice in very good shape," reported Welty. "Tanner is working his way up the ladder and should be one of our scoring group."

Expect freshmen Shay Hafner (Sterling, Ill./Newman Central Catholic) and Gavin Conway (Steeleville, Ill./Steelville) to also have a say in the league standings.

"Gavin is quickly developing and should be a difference-maker for us," speculated Welty. "He didn't run track until his senior year of high school, so we expect to see a sharp improvement with steady training. Shay was an all-state guy in high school and is made for cross country. He'll be really solid for us down the stretch."

Welty is counting on his team's depth to make the difference.

"It's really a battle in the lower part of the order," said Welty. "The men's team is similar to the women's team in that the top half is pretty much interchangeable on any given day. I don't expect anyone to really run away from the pack, but we've got guys on the back end who will push the group."

That push could mean a podium finish for the Scots' men. They've climbed one place in each of the last two years, placing fourth last season. Welty is banking on his men to continue that progression.

"Getting three or more all-conference performances will be a good season for our men," predicted Welty. "We had three last year and just missed a fourth. I think our upper half should be in contention and that will also put the team in contention. Winning the meet is always the No. 1 goal, but improving on last year's finish is the primary focus and then who knows what could happen. We just have to keep moving forward."

Welty praised both teams for their work in the preseason and points to their chemistry as a point of optimism.

"We've had a good opening training session," said a pleased Welty. "I like what we accomplished in the first week. We're getting ready for some quality workouts. The thing that's impressed me the most is the team's camaraderie and morale. The groups understand each other and how to appropriately push each other. They care about each other's progression and that's a very good thing."