May 29, 2009
Results
Complete Results 
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Junior Greg Shroka became the first Illini men's track and field athlete to qualify for the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships, doing so by placing fourth in the high jump at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships Friday at Louisville's Cardinal Park. The top five finishers in each individual event in each of the four regional meets throughout the country receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, scheduled for June 10-13.
Shroka cleared 7 feet, 1 inch (2.16m) in his second attempt on Friday, which is the best high jump performance of his career and ranks as the second-best performance in Illinois history to Gail Olson's school record of 7-3 1/2. The junior will also be the first Illini to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the high jump since Olson in 1979.
"Greg has been striving for nationals his whole career and now that it's a reality I couldn't be happier for him," Head Coach Wayne Angel said. "Watching him jump today brought back memories of my old teammate, Gail Olson. Going 7-1 and moving into second on the all-time list is very exciting and I expect great things from Greg at NCAAs. Going to Fayetteville to compete with the best of the best shows that his hard work has paid off and will have him great experience for the future."
Shroka was able to avenge his performance at last year's regional championships, when he tied for fifth in the high jump and lost in a jump-off for the final automatic berth into nationals. Indiana freshman Derek Drouin was crowned this year's NCAA Mideast Regional high jump champion with a leap of 7-3 1/4.
Freshman Andrew Riley qualified for tomorrow's final in the 110m hurdles, timing 14.09 to run the sixth-best time in preliminaries. LSU freshman Barrett Nugent had the fastest trials time, running 13.81. Riley is currently ranked ninth in the NCAA in the 110m hurdles with a personal-best time of 13.61, and should receive a bid to nationals no matter what happens in the event final, scheduled for 3:55 p.m. CT on Saturday.
Senior All-American Gakologelwang Masheto was scheduled to compete the 400m, but scratched from the event due to a knee injury. Masheto ended his illustrious Illinois career as a two-time All-American, six-time Big Ten champion and three-time school record-holder.
"Masheto is a young man who has done great things for this University and for some reason his knee just reacted this week," Angel said. "I know that he would do anything for this team, but I didn't want to ask him to push it and risk further injury. He's had such an amazing career at Illinois and it's unfortunate that it will end like this. He's raised the bar in terms of what it means to be an Illini and he's done this University proud."
Due the injury, sophomore Cody Wisslead will replace Masheto in 4x400m relay, which is the final event tomorrow. At last year's regional meet, Wisslead was also a last-minute addition to the 4x400m relay.
"Cody will run in 4x400 tomorrow and I know that he'll give his all just like he did last year," Angel said. "Without Masheto, everyone will have to step up to have shot at making it to the NCAA Championships."
The Illini also contested a 4x100m relay on Friday, as the foursome of freshman Roger Jones, freshman Stanley Azie, Wisslead and junior Azeez Shogbuyi timed 41.53 to take 14th in event preliminaries. Sophomore Casey Fonnesbeck took 20th in the shot put with a distance of 53-2 3/4.
In other action on the track, Wisslead (400m hurdles) and senior Gary Miller (800m) both just missed qualifying for Saturday's event finals. Wisslead placed 10th in the 400m hurdles prelims to narrowly miss making the final, clocking a 51.90 to finish .12 out of the final spot. Miller ran 1:50.94 in the 800 to place 11th in the prelims, missing out on the final by just .63 seconds.
Illinois will continue action at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships on Saturday beginning at noon CT with Andrew Zollner in the pole vault and followed by Matt McHugh in the hammer throw and finals of the running events. Live results can be found at www.deltatiming.com and also linked on www.fightingillini.com.
Illinois Friday Results at NCAA Mideast Regional Championships
Q/q = qualified for Saturday Final
High Jump (FINAL)
4. Greg Shroka 7-1 (2.16m) **Receives automatic bid to NCAA Outdoor Championships
Shot Put (FINAL)
20. Casey Fonnesbeck 53-2 3/4 (16.22m)
4x100m Relay Prelims
14. Illinois 41.53
(Roger Jones, Stanley Azie, Cody Wisslead, Azeez Shogbuyi)
110m Hurdles Prelims
6. Andrew Riley 14.09 q
800m Prelims
11. Gary Miller 1:50.94
400m Hurdles Prelims
10. Cody Wisslead 51.90
Illinois Remaining Schedule at NCAA Mideast Regional Championships
(All times Central)
Saturday, May 30
12 p.m. Pole Vault (Andrew Zollner)
1:30 p.m. Hammer Throw (Matt McHugh)
3:55 p.m. 110m Hurdles Final (Andrew Riley)
5:20 p.m. 4x400m Relay (Yawusa Kinda, Dan Jones, Cody Wisslead, Gary Miller)
