Illinois Wesleyan University Women's Track

Todd Lowder enters his third season as head coach of the men's track & field program, leading the sprints and relay events. The 2023-24 season marked his first year as the Director of Track and Field. He has served as IWU's Director of Sports Performance since the 2020-21 season. Lowder has coached three different Titans to seven USTFCCCA All-American honors throughout his tenure. His son, Evan Lowder, has five All-American finishes throughout his career, four of which were first team honors.  Lowder was awarded the 2023 Coaching Staff of the Year award after the program turned in its highest finish (second-place) at the CCIW Indoor Championships, Feb. 24-25, 2023. Throughout his three seasons as head coach, the men's program has not finished worse than fourth at a CCIW Indoor or Outdoor Championship. Prior to Lowder's hire, the Titans had not finished top-four at the conference meet since 2014.  Most recently, Lowder was a volunteer on Schumacher's staff and Illinois Wesleyan's Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. Lowder's role with the track and field team included assisting and managing the sprints group of both the men's and women's squads.  "I am honored and excited to accept this position," Lowder exclaimed. "I look forward to representing such an incredible program and institution. I have a passion for helping people build on their personal strengths and identifying opportunities for development to achieve a higher level of performance. I will strive to create a program that allows student-athletes to bring their best and authentic self to the track each day, while promoting an environment of inclusivity." No stranger to the Bloomington-Normal community, Lowder is the founder and head coach of Central Illinois Track Club. An organization he began in 2015, the Central Illinois Track Club achieved an AAU top-100 status under his development of area athletes.  An entrepreneur, Lowder created Fitness Quest Personal Training in 1997. He has held the position of President and Head Coach since its inception.  Lowder earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science from Christopher Newport University in 1994. He completed his master's in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia-Irvine University in 2023.   

Schumacher has been the head men's and women's track and field coach at Illinois Wesleyan since 1997. Through May of 2016, under Schumachers direction, the Titans have produced 253 All-Americans including three relay teams and seventeen individual national champions. In addition to winning four NCAA championships (2016 Outdoor, 2010 Outdoor, 2008 Indoor and Outdoor); his womens teams have finished in the top 20 nationally on 17 other occasions 2015 (3rd Indoor, 4th Outdoor); 2014 (19th Outdoor), 2013 (17th indoor); 2012 (sixth Indoor, ninth outdoor); 2011 (sixth indoor); 2009 (fourth indoor, seventh outdoor); 2007 (10th indoor, 19th outdoor); 2006 (fourth indoor, 17th outdoor); 2004 (sixth indoor, 11th outdoor); 2003 (13th indoor); and 2000 (eighth indoor). The IWU womens 4x4 relay team has been to the outdoor national championship 13 of the past 14 seasons posting a school record 3:44 along the way.  Schumachers mens teams have also yielded six national finishes 2008 (14th indoor, 25th outdoor); 2007 (18th outdoor); 2000 (eighth indoor); and 1999 (ninth indoor, 15th outdoor.). The IWU men have the CCIW record in the 4x4 relay at 3:13.33. The IWU track and field staff was voted College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Staff of the Year in 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2016. Schumacher was named Division III "Coach of the Year" by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association in 2008, 2010, and 2016. He was also named Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012, 2015, and 2016.  Schumacher is a 1991 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, where he was an All-American for three years in track, competing on teams that won three national championships. He was also a four-year letter winner in football and played in two national championship games. Schumacher, who earned a masters degree in physical education in 1992 at Wisconsin-LaCrosse, was promoted to associate professor of physical education at IWU in February 2003 and to full professor in 2013.  In the fall of 2006 he was inducted into the UW-LaCrosse Wall of Fame, an award that honors those individuals who have displayed exceptional ability while on campus and since graduation. In the fall of 2002 Schumacher earned the UW-LaCrosse Multi-Cultural Alumni Award, which is given to multicultural graduates who have achieved distinction in their field. Schumacher and his wife, Amy, have a daughter, Kienna, a 2016 Illinois Wesleyan graduate with a degree in accounting and a four-year letterwinner on the IWU track and field team; and a son, Keondre.   Chris Schumacher Head Track and Field Coach Go here for article on "Coach Shoe" in Summer 2010 Illinois Wesleyan Magazine Chris Schumacher has been the head men's and women's track and field coach at Illinois Wesleyan since 1997. Through May of 2016, under Schumachers direction, the Titans have produced 253 All-Americans including three relay teams and seventeen individual national champions. In addition to winning four NCAA championships (2016 Outdoor, 2010 Outdoor, 2008 Indoor and Outdoor); his womens teams have finished in the top 20 nationally on 17 other occasions 2015 (3rd Indoor, 4th Outdoor); 2014 (19th Outdoor), 2013 (17th indoor); 2012 (sixth Indoor, ninth outdoor); 2011 (sixth indoor); 2009 (fourth indoor, seventh outdoor); 2007 (10th indoor, 19th outdoor); 2006 (fourth indoor, 17th outdoor); 2004 (sixth indoor, 11th outdoor); 2003 (13th indoor); and 2000 (eighth indoor). The IWU womens 4x4 relay team has been to the outdoor national championship 13 of the past 14 seasons posting a school record 3:44 along the way.  Schumachers mens teams have also yielded six national finishes 2008 (14th indoor, 25th outdoor); 2007 (18th outdoor); 2000 (eighth indoor); and 1999 (ninth indoor, 15th outdoor.). The IWU men have the CCIW record in the 4x4 relay at 3:13.33. The IWU track and field staff was voted College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Staff of the Year in 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2016. Schumacher was named Division III "Coach of the Year" by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association in 2008, 2010, and 2016. He was also named Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012, 2015, and 2016.  Schumacher is a 1991 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, where he was an All-American for three years in track, competing on teams that won three national championships. He was also a four-year letter winner in football and played in two national championship games. Schumacher, who earned a masters degree in physical education in 1992 at Wisconsin-LaCrosse, was promoted to associate professor of physical education at IWU in February 2003 and to full professor in 2013.  In the fall of 2006 he was inducted into the UW-LaCrosse Wall of Fame, an award that honors those individuals who have displayed exceptional ability while on campus and since graduation. In the fall of 2002 Schumacher earned the UW-LaCrosse Multi-Cultural Alumni Award, which is given to multicultural graduates who have achieved distinction in their field. Schumacher and his wife, Amy, have a daughter, Kienna, a 2016 Illinois Wesleyan graduate with a degree in accounting and a four-year letterwinner on the IWU track and field team; and a son, Keondre.  

Becharas joined the Illinois Wesleyan staff full-time in fall 2014 after spending two seasons as a graduate assistant coach for cross country and track (2012-14). Becharas was a four-year cross country and track and field runner at DePauw University, where she graduated in 2012 with a degree in  sport and exercise science . In addition to being captain in both sports as a senior, she was all-conference in cross country during the 2010 season. She also earned m ost improved athlete for cross country and track in field the 2010-2011 seasons. She obtained a master's degree in biomechanics from Illinois State University in 2014 and also h as the National Strength and Conditioning Association Personal Trainer certification and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. completed a summer internship at St. Vincent's Sports Performance . She knows all the words to all the Taylor Swift music. In the summer of 2016, she placed first in the local Tri-Shark Triathlon women's elite race (1:08:32.1) and also won the Bloomington-Normal July 4 Park 2 Park five-mile race.(32:47.5).   Lisa Becharas Assistant Cross Country, Track Coach OFFICE Lisa Becharas joined the Illinois Wesleyan staff full-time in fall 2014 after spending two seasons as a graduate assistant coach for cross country and track (2012-14). Becharas was a four-year cross country and track and field runner at DePauw University, where she graduated in 2012 with a degree in  sport and exercise science . In addition to being captain in both sports as a senior, she was all-conference in cross country during the 2010 season. She also earned m ost improved athlete for cross country and track in field the 2010-2011 seasons. She obtained a master's degree in biomechanics from Illinois State University in 2014 and also h as the National Strength and Conditioning Association Personal Trainer certification and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. completed a summer internship at St. Vincent's Sports Performance . She knows all the words to all the Taylor Swift music. In the summer of 2016, she placed first in the local Tri-Shark Triathlon women's elite race (1:08:32.1) and also won the Bloomington-Normal July 4 Park 2 Park five-mile race.(32:47.5).