Harper College Women's Track

Macnider has been the head coach of the Harper College cross country program for the past five years.  Macnider joined Harper in 2011 as an assistant coach on the men's and women's track and field team, which he helped guide both teams to national championships.  In the fall of 2011, Macnider guided the Hawks to their first ever national championship in men's cross country. The Hawks repeated as national champs in the fall of 2012 and completed a three-peat with a national championship in 2013. The Hawks won their fourth straight national title in 2014 on the men's side. Macnider has revitalized the women's cross country program as well. The women's team took sixth place at nationals in 2013, and in 2014 the Hawks finished runner-up at the national meet, the best finish in school history. In 2015, the men's team won its fifth straight national title, and the women finished runner-up for a second straight year at the national meet.   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.  Three times his teams placed second in the state and three other times his teams placed third. In all, Macnider guided the Saxons to 13 Mid-Suburban championships, and he coached 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. After graduating from Niles West High School in 1969, Macnider started his collegiate career at Harper.  In 1969 and 1970, he was the Skyway Conference cross country champion and also placed 21st at the NJCAA National Cross Country Championships.  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 USTFA National Track 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.

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 just completed his first season as an assistant coach for the Harper College track and field teams. 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. This past summer, 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 just completed his first season as an assistant coach for the Harper College track and field teams. 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. This past summer, 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.

Coach Renee Zellner has had a successful and distinguished career at Harper College as a coach of both the men and women's track and field teams. She is currently an assistant coach under Head Coach Jim Macnider. Coach Zellner has been a crucial member of Harper's coaching staff going back to 1980 when she started the women's track and field and gymnastics programs here. As head coach, she led both teams to their first national championship. She went on to win six national championships in total, five (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012) for the men, and one (2011) for the women. She served as the president and officer of the NJCAA Division I Men and Women’s Coaches Association for several years. She was the president and an officer of the NJCAA Region IV Track and Field Coaches Association for many years. She also served as Vice President of the NJCAA Division III Coaches Association for 12 years. In 1994, she was selected as an assistant coach/manager for the North Team at the Olympic festival and has been an official at several major invitationals and as an assistant official at a National Championship meet. Coach Zellner specializes in the sprints, jumps, throws, hurdles, 400m, 800m events and she works on developing athletes into combined event athletes. More than 100 athletes have qualified for nationals and numerous athletes have earned the status of All-Americans under Coach Zellner. All-Americans   Timeline -Assistant Coach (Men & Women Track & Field) at Harper College coach since 2019 -Volunteer Throws Coach (Men & Track & Field) at Carson Newman University from 2017 to 2019 -Head Coach (Men Track & Field) at Harper College from 1991-2017 (27 seasons) -Head Coach (Women Track & Field) at Harper College from 1980-2017 (38 seasons) -Started the women’s track and field program and gymnastics program in 1980 at Harper College -Mid-suburban girl’s track and field coordinator for 5 years -Started the girl's track team at Fremd High School in 1973 -Started the first girl’s gymnastics team in Milwaukee in 1970 at Custer High School. Went on to become State Champions (2x) Awards -USTFCCCA Coaches Central Region Men's Head Coach of the Year 3x (2015, 2016, 2017) -USTFCCCA Coaches Central Region Women's Head Coach of the Year 3x (2015, 2016, 2017) -NJCAA National Championship Women’s Coach of the Meet Award 5x (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012) -NJCAA National Championship Women’s Coach of the Meet Award (2011) -NJCAA Region IV Men's Coach of the Year (11x) -NJCAA Region IV Women's Coach of the Year (9x) -NJCAA Division III Coaches Association Female Coach of the Year in (2000) Hall of Fame -ITCCCA Hall of Fame (2018) -NJCAA Region IV Hall of Fame (2005) -NJCAA Region IV Coaches Hall of Fame (2004) -NJCAA Division I Coaches Hall of Fame (1997) Education Post Graduate hours: Health, Fitness, Coaching Masters Degree: Physical Education/Health, Northwestern University (1978) Bachelors Degree: Physical Education/Dance/Recreation, Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1970) -Health Fitness Instructor Certification: American College of Sports Medicine -United States Track and Field (USATF) Master level officials certification. NJCAA National Championship Results Year Women T&F Men T&F 2024 2023 National Champions* Sixth* 2022 Fourth* Eleventh* 2021 - - 2020 - - 2019 Third* Third* 2018 Third* Fifth* 2017 National Runner-Up Sixth 2016 Third Third 2015 Third National Runner-Up 2014 Tenth Sixth 2013 Seventh Third 2012 Ninth National Champions 2011 National Champions National Champions 2010 Fourth Third 2009 National Champions 2008 National Champions 2007 National Champions 2006 *Assistant Coach 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. Julie Jestus an NJCAA National champion in the heptathlon and high jump was inducted into the NJCAA coaches’ Hall of Fame. (2013)   In 2012 Coach Zellner’s men’s team won in a close finish raising their National Championship total to 5 championships in 7 years, finishing second 2 of those years. With this honor came the Coach of the Meet Award. 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 women’s side, Jazmin Calep, Brittany Walls and Erica Ogunleye earned Second Team All-America honors under Zellner’s watch. In 2012, Ryan Asta a Harper College thrower and a double national champion in the throws was inducted into the NJCAA coaches Hall of Fame.