May 15, 2010
Results
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - On a rainy Saturday at the Big Ten Championships, the Illinois men's track and field team turned in a number of solid performances, advancing eight Illini to finals and scoring in two other events. Senior Greg Shroka posted points in the high jump while sophomore Kyle Engnell scored in the 3,000m steeplechase at Indiana's Robert C. Haugh Complex.
Shroka, a 2009 All-American in the high jump, placed sixth in the event with a leap of 6-10 ¼ (2.09m) while battling a slippery takeoff area due to the rain. The Cedar Lake, Ind., native tallied three team points for his efforts and has scored at all four Big Ten Championships in his career.
"Greg jumped really well for the conditions," interim head coach Mike Turk said. "I am really happy for him after everything he has gone through this season. He fought really hard and has the heart of a lion."
In the final race of the day, Engnell executed his race plan with a strong kick over the final 600m and recorded a personal-best time of 8:58.31 in the 3,000m steeplechase. He made up enough ground over the final lap to notch a seventh-place finish for the second straight year in the event. His two points increased the team total to 15 points, placing the Illini in ninth through eight scored events.
"Kyle ran a really gutsy race," Turk said. "He followed his race plan and did what he was supposed to do, so that was outstanding."
In the trials of the running events, sophomore Andrew Riley led the way in two events on the Billy Hayes Track, as he clocked the fastest 100m and 110m hurdles times. The Kingston, Jamaica native timed 10.52 in the 100m and 14.12 in the 110m hurdles to take the top preliminary time in each event.
"Andrew wants to win," Turk said. "He is going to lay everything out there tomorrow, so I expect a good showing from him."
Sophomore Stanley Azie also advanced to the finals in a pair of events. He ran the fourth-fastest time of the day (10.67) in the 100m dash and just made the cut in the 200m, filling the ninth and final spot with a time of 21.56.
Junior Cody Wisslead ran an excellent race in the 400m hurdles and posted the third-fastest time of the day (52.14) to advance to finals. He will battle Ohio State's Elon Simms (51.68) and Iowa's Ray Varner (51.69), who turned in the top two times, during Sunday's final.
A solid showing in the 800m earned senior Brian Beaird the sixth-fastest time (1:50.10) in preliminaries and advanced him to finals. Beaird just missed scoring in the event last year with a ninth-place effort.
"Brian looked great in his race," Turk said. "He came up big in the 800m qualifying by running a big personal best to get into the finals."
The Illini altered the 4x100m relay lineup due to senior Azeez Shogbuyi's tweaked hamstring, but still qualified for the final with a seventh-place finish in preliminaries. The team of Riley, freshman Bai Kabba, freshman Josh Zinzer and Azie ran a time of 41.25 to advance.
"We had some terrific performances overall today," Turk said. "We will have to shuffle the 4x100m relay lineup a little bit due to some hamstring injuries, but we will be ready to go in all the finals tomorrow."
Illinois will resume competition at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. CT with the shot put. The men's 4x100m relay final is scheduled to start at 11:55 a.m. CT, with the 4x400m relay closing out the championships at 2:45 p.m.
Illinois Saturday Results at Big Ten Outdoor Championships
Q/q = qualified for Sunday event final
High Jump (FINAL)
6. Greg Shroka 6-10 ¼ (2.09m); 3 team points
3,000m Steeplechase (FINAL)
7. Kyle Engnell 8:58.31; 2 team points
100m (Prelims)
1. Andrew Riley 10.52 Q
4. Stanley Azie 10.67 Q
14. Azeez Shogbuyi 10.84
200m (Prelims)
9. Stanley Azie 21.56 q
12. Bai Kabba 21.68
14. Dan Jones 21.77
22. Azeez Shogbuyi 22.53
400m (Prelims)
11. Dan Jones 48.16
14. Bai Kabba 48.47
15. Shane Daniel 48.49
DQ Malcolm Taylor
800m (Prelims)
6. Brian Beaird 1:50.10 q
16. Scott Phelps 1:51.17
1,500m (Prelims)
18. Graham Farnsworth 3:51.01
19. Mike Murray 3:51.04
110m Hurdles (Prelims)
1. Andrew Riley 14.12 Q
5. Cody Wisslead 14.24 Q
18. Josh Gist 15.29
400m Hurdles (Prelims)
3. Cody Wisslead 52.14 q
4x100m Relay (Prelims)
7. Illinois 41.25 q
(Andrew Riley, Bai Kabba, Josh Zinzer, Stanley Azie)
Team Results Through Eight Scored Events
1. Minnesota - 79
2. Indiana - 36
3. Purdue - 35
3. Wisconsin - 35
5. Ohio State - 32
6. Michigan - 26
7. Michigan State - 24
8. Penn State - 19
9. Illinois - 15
10. Iowa - 11
