MOUNT VERNON - The Cornell College track and field teams will compete for all-conference medals under new head coach Jerry Monner this weekend at the Midwest Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in Jacksonville, Illinois.
 
The Championships will be a two-day event beginning at 1 p.m. Friday while resuming activities at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
 
In his first year as head coach, Monner has more than 15 athletes ranked top-five in the conference across 10 different events for both the men and the women. Cornell is expected to win several all-conference medals which are awarded to the top-three finishers in each event.
 
Senior Natalie McAllister is in a strong position in several events, ranking second in 60 hurdles (9.05), third both the 60 (8.09) and the 200 (26.79). McAllister is the defending indoor champion in the high jump and the 60 hurdles.
 
The women have two top-seeded athletes in freshman Hailey Carolan in the high jump (5' 6") and junior Sidney Brown in the 400 (1:01.13). Carolan's high jump is tied for seventh nationally at the Division III level. 
 
Freshman Alyza Koppes in the 800 (2:25.18) and sophomore Katie Lammers in the 5,000 (15:50.95) are both ranked second in their respective events.
 
In the men's mile, sophomore Gabe Soda is seeded second (4:20.12) and Thomas Coble is third (4:21.64). Coble is also second in the 3,000 (8:40.65) with Soda seeded third (8:40.68).
 
Sophomore Thomas Machande is fourth in the 400 (52.48) and sophomore Isaak Hutchings is ranked fifth in the 800 (1:59.36). The men's 5,000 has junior Noah Lutzke ranked fifth (15:50.95). Both the men's and the women's 4x400 relays look promising with both being ranked at third.

Hutchings captured indoor titles last year in the 800 and mile. The men are also defending champions in the distance medley relay. 
 
The men finished third last year with the women placing sixth.