March 11, 2000

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Two Illini athletes and one relay team competed today at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Randol Tyson Track Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas.

Junior Sherman Armstrong (Chicago/ Luther South HS) earned All-American honors by placing eight in the 400m dash, running a time of 46.66 seconds. In Friday's prelims, Armstrong ran the third fastest indoor 400 in Illini history, running a time of 46.43.

Armstrong finished his superb indoor season, anchoring the 4x400m relay team to seventh place finish. Armstrong, along with seniors Babatunde Ridley (Carlinville, IL/ Carlinville HS) and Tyrone Jones (Centralia, IL/ Centralia HS) and sophomore Kendall McCroy (Peru, IN/ Peru HS) ran at time of 3:08.92. The time was the fourth fastest indoor time in school history.

The Illini men earned 3 team points, placing 49th overall. Arkansas won the men's title with 69.50 team points.

For the Illini women, senior Tara Mendozza (Aurora, CO/ Eaglecrest HS) placed higher than any Illinois finisher at nationals, running to fifth place in the mile. Mendozza earned All-American honors for the second time in her career. Mendozza ran a time of 4:46.59.

Mendozza earned 4 team points, placing Illinois 42nd overall. UCLA won the women's title with 51 points.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

MEN
400m DASH
8. Sherman Armstrong   46.66

4x400m RELAY
7. Babatunde Ridley, Tyrone Jones,
   Kendall McCroy, Sherman Armstrong    3:08.92

WOMEN
MILE RUN
5. Tara Mendozza    4:46.59