Harper College Men's Track

Jim Macnider has been the head coach of the Harper College Cross Country programs since 2011 and Track & Field programs since 2018. He was also an assistant coach of the Track & Field programs since 2012 handling the distance crew before becoming the head coach. Macnider also served as the Interim Athletic Director from March 2025 - September 2025 as Harper College conducted a national search.  As an assistant he helped Coach Renee Zellner guide both teams to national championships in 2011. The men were able to repeat in 2012. In the fall of 2011, Macnider led the Hawks to their first ever NJCAA DIII National Championship in men's cross country. The men went on to win eight straight titles from 2011-2018. They won their ninth title in 2023. Macnider has also revitalized the women's cross country program. The women's team took sixth place at nationals in 2013 and then finished runner-up back to back years in 2014 and 2015. In 2016 the women's team broke through to their first ever NJCAA DIII National Championship in cross country. The team went on to win two more championships in a row as they were able to three-peat from 2016-2018. In 2022, he led the Women's Cross Country team to their fourth title and repeated again in 2023 for their fifth. In 2023, he led the Women's Track & Field program to their second title since 2011. For men, Macnider has been named: USTFCCCA Cross Country National Coach of the Year 5x (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023) USTFCCCA Cross Country Central Region Coach of the Year 5x (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023) NJCAA DIII Cross Country Region IV Coach of the Year 10x (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023) USTFCCCA Outdoor Track & Field Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year 2x (2015, 2017) For women, Macnider has been named: USTFCCCA Cross Country National Coach of the Year 5x (2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023) USTFCCCA Cross Country Central Region Coach of the Year 3x (2015, 2017, 2023) NJCAA DIII Cross Country Region IV Coach of the Year 9x (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023) USTFCCCA Outdoor Track & Field National Coach of the Year (2023) USTFCCCA Outdoor Track & Field Central Region Coach of the Year 3x (2018, 2019, 2023) USTFCCCA Outdoor Track & Field Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year 3x (2015, 2016, 2017) The Hawks were awarded the Gary Moore Award for the Best Overall Cross Country Program in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2023 due to Macnider's leadership.   NJCAA National Championship Results Year Women XC Men XC Women T&F Men T&F 2026 2025 Runners-Up Runners-Up 2024 Runners-Up Runners-Up Champions 4th 2023 Champions Champions Champions 6th 2022 Champions 5th 4th 11th 2021 5th 9th - - 2020 - - - - 2019 Runners-Up 3rd 3rd 3rd 2018 Champions Champions 3rd 5th 2017 Champions Champions Runners-Up* 6th* 2016 Champions Champions 3rd* 3rd* 2015 Runners-Up Champions 3rd* Runners-Up* 2014 Runners-Up Champions 10th* 6th* 2013 6th Champions 7th* 3rd* 2012 - Champions 9th* Champions* 2011 - Champions Champions* Champions* *Assistant Coach After graduating from Niles West High School in 1969, Macnider started his collegiate career at Harper College under Coach Bob Nolan. In 1969 and 1970, he was the Skyway Conference Cross Country Champion and also placed 21st at the NJCAA National Cross Country Championships his freshman year. He qualified again his sophomore year, but finished 88th. On the track, Macnider was the NJCAA Region IV mile and two-mile Champion in 1971.  At Nationals that year, he placed 12th in the two-mile. Macnider transferred to North Central College in the fall of 1971. As a Cardinal, he placed 4th in the CCIW in 1971 and 1972. In 1972, Macnider finished 33rd in the NCAA Division III Championships. After college, Macnider continued to run competitively. In 1977, he finished second in the Chicago Marathon. He was also the USATF National 10,000m champion. In 1980, Macnider was a United States Olympic marathon trials qualifier. His personal bests are 2:19:41 in the marathon, 29:54 in the 10,000m and 14:09 in the 5,000m. Prior to arriving at Harper, Macnider was the physical education department chair at Schaumburg High School from 1973 to 2010. At Schaumburg, he also coached their boy's cross country team. Under Macnider's tutelage, the team was crowned State Champions in 1985, 1987 and 1988, runner-ups in 1981, 1991, and 1999, and third in 1992, 1998, and 2006. Other top 10 finishes included fourth in 1980 and 1995, fifth in 1984 and 1989, sixth in 1993 and 1996, seventh in 1997, and ninth in 1990. In all, Macnider guided the Saxons to 13 Mid-Suburban League Championships coaching 125 All-Conference runners and 25 All-State runners. On the track, Macnider coached State Champions in the 3200m, 2x1600m, and the 2x3200m. For his efforts, Macnider was inducted into the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995.  

Wallor has been an assistant coach of the Harper College mens and womens cross country teams for eight years. During his time coaching at Harper, Wallor has coached 15 individual All-Americans and eight regional team titles. In 2011, Wallor and head coach Jim Macnider led the men to their first ever national championship in cross country. The men's cross country team went on to win titles in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. The women's cross country team finished second in the nation in both 2014 and 2015. In 2012, Wallor was an assistant coach on the Harper Mens Track Team that won a national championship. Wallor has also helped revitalize the women's cross country program. The Hawks took sixth at the national meet in 2013, and in 2014 finished runner-up at nationals, the best finish in school history. In 2015, the women's team once again finished second in the nation at the national meet.   Wallor was a Harper College athlete after graduating from Fremd High School in Palatine in 2001. While at Harper, Wallor was a two time All-American in cross country and three-time All-American in track, as well as being a National Champion in the 1500m during the 2003 track season.   After graduating from Harper, Wallor continued his collegiate running career at the University of Illinois with the Fighting Illini. Wallor was a top-five runner on the cross country team for two years. He also competed in regionals and the Big Ten Championships in cross country and track. Wallors personal best times are 4:13 in the mile, 8:20 in the 3000m, 14:47 in the 5k, 24:39 in the 8k and 1:07:54 in the half marathon.   Wallor graduated from the University of Illinois in 2006 with a bachelors degree in Sports Management.   After college, Wallor has continued to run competitively. He competes in marathons with the goal of qualifying for the USA Olympic Marathon Trials in 2016. His current personal best time is 2:26:48 in the marathon.   Outside of coaching at Harper Wallor runs Marathon Books, a company he started in 2010, which buys and sells textbooks and books.  

Sullivan is beginning his second season as an assistant coach for the Harper College track and field teams. Sullivan will focus on sprints, jumps, and weights. Sullivan recently graduated from Monmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology. He competed for four years on the track and field team at Monmouth, where he was a multiple-time conference champion in several relay events and also a runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles. As a junior, Sullivan was on a record-setting 4x200m relay squad. While on the track and field team, he was also a team captain and led offseason practices in the fall. Sullivan was instrumental in introducing incoming athletes to the track and field program, teaching them specific drills and workouts. It was during this time that he learned the value and importance of technical improvement in the sport. Sullivan worked with his high school track coach with a co-ed summer track program. He is certified to coach in the state of Illinois through ASEP at the high school level and will soon be certified at the collegiate level. Sullivan also recently completed the USTFCCCA 251: Track and Field Technical Certification offered through the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Brian Sullivan Assistant Track and Field Coach Brian Sullivan is beginning his second season as an assistant coach for the Harper College track and field teams. Sullivan will focus on sprints, jumps, and weights. Sullivan recently graduated from Monmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology. He competed for four years on the track and field team at Monmouth, where he was a multiple-time conference champion in several relay events and also a runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles. As a junior, Sullivan was on a record-setting 4x200m relay squad. While on the track and field team, he was also a team captain and led offseason practices in the fall. Sullivan was instrumental in introducing incoming athletes to the track and field program, teaching them specific drills and workouts. It was during this time that he learned the value and importance of technical improvement in the sport. Sullivan worked with his high school track coach with a co-ed summer track program. He is certified to coach in the state of Illinois through ASEP at the high school level and will soon be certified at the collegiate level. Sullivan also recently completed the USTFCCCA 251: Track and Field Technical Certification offered through the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Zellner has had a successful and distinguished career at Harper College as the head coach of both the mens track and field team and the womens track and field team.  Zellners teams have claimed five national championships in the last nine seasons on the mens side and the schools only national championship in a womens sport with the track and field team in 2011.  Zellner guided the Hawk men to national titles in 2007-2009 and again in 2011 and 2012.  In 2011, Harper was the first school ever to win national championships in both mens and womens track and field. In 2016, Coach Zellner's teams both took third place at the national meet. On the men's side, Adam Brauer (5k and 10k) and Laith Kanan (hammer throw, shot put) each won two national titles . On the women's side, Ali Gutt won national titles in the 1500m and 800m while Leah Kloss took home a national title in the hammer. Ashley Proksa was a national champ in the long jump, and Mary Saitta captured first place in the discus. For a second straight year, Zellner won both the Men's Central Region Coach of the Year and Women's Central Region Coach of the Year awards from the USTFCCCA. In 2015, Coach Zellner's teams performed exceptionally well at the national meet. The men achieved second place at nationals while the women claimed third place . On the men's side, Jalen Griffin won national titles in both the 100m and 200m, and Juan Barajas took top honors in the 5k. On the women's side, Leah Kloss won national titles in both the 100m and 200m while Joslyn Nicholson took top honors in the hammer throw and long jump. Both Kloss and Nicholson were also a part of a national championship winning 4x100m relay team with Samantha Soriano and Shayan Dussard. Zellner was named both the Men's Central Region Coach of the Year and Women's Central Region Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA. In 2014, Zellner's teams once performed well at the national meet. The men placed sixth in the nation while the women placed 10th. Juan Barajas earned All-American status in both the 5k and 10k for the Hawks. In 2013, the men's team captured second place at the national meet and had three national champions (Troy Cunningham, Colin Weber and Dan Lowry) and also won the 3200m relay. Three athletes (Isaac Jean-Paul, Colin Weber and Troy Cunningham) also earned All-American status with second place finishes. On the women's side in 2013, the Hawks tied for seventh at nationals and were national champions in the 3200m relay. Additionally, Jordan Wagner captured the 800m national title, and Lara Sladek earned All-American status with a second place finish in the hammer throw.   Zellner was named Coach of the Year at the national meet in 2012 and her assistant, Nathaniel Williams, was named Assistant Coach of the Year.  That team featured five national champions (Pablo Ramirez, Chris Spudic, Troy Cunningham, Isaac Jean-Paul and Robert Douglas) and one Second Team All-America (Andre Barnes).  On the womens side, Jazmin Calep, Brittany Walls and Erica Ogunleye earned Second Team All-America honors under Zellners watch. In 2010, the mens team captured the Region IV championship for the fourth consecutive time on their way to a third place finish in the national meet, and the womens squad captured the Region IV championship for the first time in ten years before taking fourth place at nationals.   Also in 2010, Zellner was named Region IV Mens Coach of the Year for the tenth time (fourth consecutive), and Region IV Womens Coach of the Year for the seventh time. The dual 2010 Coach of the Year honors mark the first time she has earned these awards in the same season.   Zellner was elected to the NJCAA Division I Coaches Hall of Fame in 1997, was named NJCAA Division III Coaches Association Female Coach of the Year in 2000, was elected to the Region IV Coaches Hall of Fame in 2004, and was named NJCAA Division III Coaches Association Male Coach of the Year in 2011. She has served as President and Vice President of the NJCAA Coaches Association Division I and Division III for the past 21 years.