Jan. 27, 2001

Cedar Falls, Iowa - The Illini men's track and field program turned in quite a performance Saturday at the Northern Iowa Invite in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Illini won five event titles and had a number of season's best performances as Illinois competed in the non-team scored meet against Northern Iowa, Nebraska, Oregon, and Drake.

Senior Babatunde Ridley won the 200 meter dash in a season's best time of 21.67 seconds, and finished second in the 60 meter dash with a season's best time of 6.84. Junior Anthony Moorman placed second behind Ridley in the 200m with a season's best time of 21.70 seconds, and was third in the 60m running a season's best time of 6.87.

Winning the 400 meter dash for the second week in a row was senior Sherman Armstrong, who clocked a time of 48.65 seconds.

Senior Scott McClennan moved his unbeaten streak to a perfect four for four during the 2001 indoor season, as he captured the 3,000 meter run title in a season's best time of 8:31.35. Senior Mike Lucchesi was third behind McClennan in the 3,000m, running 8:38.84.

Illinois also captured the 4x400 meter relay in a time of 3:15.52.

In the half mile, junior Nick Gow finished third in a time of 1:53.25, while senior Dan Horyn took third in the mile, running 4:11.39.

In the field events, sophomore Bernard Grady won the shot put title with a personal best throw of 57 feet, 3/4 inches, bettering his previous best of 56 feet, 6-3/4 inches that he set at last year's Big Ten Indoor Championships.

Senior Tom Marchese finished second in the pole vault with a new personal best vault of 16 feet, 8-3/4 inches. That vault moves Marchese into tenth place on the Illinois all-time indoor performers list.

Finally, junior Charles Burton placed third in the triple jump with a season's best jump of 51 feet, 1-3/4 inches, just 1/2 inch short of the NCAA provisional qualifying standard.

The Illini are in action next Saturday, Feb. 3 as they host the Carle/Health Alliance Illini Classic at the Armory Track.