Meet Results

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois men's track and field team competed in its second meet of the season by hosting the Illinois Open today at the Armory Track. Four other teams competed today including Southern Illinois, Illinois State, North Central College and Augustana. There were no team scores for today's meet.

Junior Sherman Armstrong, coming off of an explosive start last weekend, provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 400m dash. Sherman's time, 47.03, was the fifth fastest indoor time in Illini history. This was the second event that the junior standout has provisionally qualified for this season. Last Saturday Armstrong qualified in the 60m Hurdles with a school record time of 7.82. Today, Armstrong also anchored the victorious 4x400-meter relay.

"Sherman ran phenominal today," head coach Gary Wieneke said. "He's a team leader. After Sherman's 400 race, the entire team picked up the intensity. That race was an annihilation."

Senior Babatunde Ridley also competed well for the second week in a row, posting wins in both the 60m dash and the long jump. Ridley's time in the 60m, 6.76, was a personal best. His previous best had been 6.82.

Senior Justin Norberg also set a personal best indoors today, pole vaulting 16'10", a personal record by nearly three inches. That mark places Norberg ninth on the Illinois all-time bests list in the indoor pole vault.

The middle distance squad also ran strong. Leading the charge was sophomore standout Jason Van Swol, who won the 800m run in 1:52.80. Van Swol also ran the second leg of the victorious 4x400m Relay. Senior Greg Schultz won the 1000m run in 2:28.18 with sophomore Nick Gow right behind him in 2:28.96. The 4x800m Relay won by 34 seconds, finishing in a time of 7:53.97.

Wieneke was pleased with the competitive drive and intensity of his team this week.

"Overall the intensity was greater today," Wieneke said. "That wasn't a problem. I expect next week to be a good meet at Wisconsin. The meet will be strong from top to bottom, so the intensity will take care of itself."