Dec. 11, 2001

The Illinois men's track and field team has high expectations for 2002. The Illini return a wealth of talent on the track in addition to adding one of the nations finest recruiting classes. Last season, the Illini had high expectations going into the season, but injuries hurt the chances of the team as multiple Big Ten placers were relegated to the roles of spectators for the conference and national meets.

Sprints:

With experience comes strength and Illinois' strength will be in the short sprints. Anthony Moorman and Kendall McCroy are poised for breakout seasons and give Coach Erin Tucker's group a solid one-two punch that could be among the best in the conference.

For the first time in his career, Moorman is healthy and that could mean trouble for the rest of the Big Ten. Moorman was a four-time All-American in relays while at Clemson and accomplished the feat while running through injury. A healthy Moorman should be among the favorites in any sprint race from the 60m - 200m.

McCroy is also a returning relay All-American and like Moorman, the Peru, Ind., native is looking for success in the 400m down McCroy began his breakout at the end of his junior campaign when he qualified for the finals of the 400m dash at the Big Ten Championships

In addition to Moorman and McCroy Illinois hoping for solid performances from newcomers James Keim and Terry Mastrino.

Keim made his name in Batavia, Ill., through his success in the 100 and 200 meters races and expect him to do the same at Illinois. Keim finished third at the Illinois State Championship in the 200m and fourth in the 100m during his senior year at Batavia. He was also an all-state selection in the 100m, 200m, and 4x200m relay.

Mastrino earned a trio of top-three finishes at the Illinois State Track and Field Championship as a senior. The York High School product is expected to bolster Illinois' 400 meter sprinting corps, as he anchored his 4X400m relay team to the state title in 2001, while finishing second in the 400m dash and third in the 200 meters in 2000.

Illinois could also get some help from across Fourth Street in the form of Mike Hall and Abe Jones. Hall and Jones are both members of the Illinois Football team and bring impressive track resumes to add depth for the Illini.

Distance/Middle Distance

Success in distance and middle distance events has long been a trademark of Illinois track teams. This season, Gary Wieneke has a versatile group of runners who have each experienced success and that group is built around five-time Big Ten 800m Champion Jason Van Swol.

Van Swol returns for his final season in an Illini uniform and hopes to repeat the previous success he has enjoyed at the Big Ten Championships. During his career, Van Swol has won five 800 meter Big Ten titles in six attempts (Only loss was to Illinois' Bobby True) and will look to carry his winning ways over to the mile, which he will double in this season.

Nick Gow returns to join Van Swol and make the Illinois duo one of the best tandems at the Big Ten level. Last season Gow finished fourth and sixth at the indoor and outdoor conference meets respectively. He is also a returning scorer in the 1,500 meters for Illinois.

While Van Swol and Gow provide excellent leadership in the middle distance, it's a newcomer who has been making a stir during the off-season. A two-time Illinois State Champion in the 800m, Tim Hobbs is working to become the next star in what has become a long list of middle distance champions for Illinois. In addition to winning a pair of state crowns, Hobbs was a member of the national-record setting 4x800m relay team that ran a record time of 7:34.18 at York High School in Elmhurst, Ill., and was the runner up at the 2001 state track and field meet in the 1600m.

Over the last season-and-a-half, John Kronforst may be running as well as anyone at Illinois. He finished fourth at the Big Ten Championships in the 5,000 meters and has carried that winning attitude over to the cross country season. This year, Kronforst was named a First Team All-Big Ten selection after a seventh-place finish at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships and hopes to couple that success with that of last season's to take the final step to the national level.

Joining Kronforst a top the distance depth chart is Justin Mitchell and Aaron Wahls. Mitchell had a solid season in cross country as he and Kronforst paced the team most of the year. Wahls also returns after a solid cross country season and will give the Illini depth in the 800m and the mile.

Throws:

Tom Doyle expects even more productivity out of his throwers in 2002. Last season, Doyle coached sophomore Bernard Grady to a fourth-place finish at the Big Ten Indoor Championship in the shot put and will have Grady back this season. Last season the San Diego, Calif., native threw a career-best 59'00.25", at the Iowa State Classic, the eighth-best toss in school history, and hopes to improve on that mark and qualify for the NCAA Championships. While Grady gives the Illini a championship caliber thrower in the shot put, a prep standout will be relied upon in the discus. Kurt Glesne comes to Illinois after an impressive career at Pekin High School in Pekin, Ill. Last season, Glesne finished second at the Illinois State Track and Field Championships in the discus, while winning both the sectional and conference titles.

Peter Knaus is back after undergoing "Tommy John" surgery just after the start of the 2001 season. Knaus won the season-opening Southern Illinois Quadrangular with a mark of 197-6. In just his first meet, Knaus moved into sixth on the Illinois all-time javelin list and will be looking to move up that chart now that he is back and healthy. Horizontal Jumps

Illinois will benefit greatly from the return of a healthy Charles Burton. Burton missed the outdoor season in 2001 with a torn quad, but has made a complete recovery through the off-season. This year, Burton looks to compete for the Big Ten triple jump title after placing four previous times in the event in his career. Burton also gives Illinois one of the conferences top long jumpers. The Louisville, Ky., native is a two-time placer at the Big Ten Championships in the event for the Illini.

Freshmen Kwadwo Mensah and Josh Fournier give Illini young talent opposite of Burton's experience. An outstanding all-around athlete, Mensah who won the 2000 Minnesota State Championship in the triple jump. The St. Paul, Minn., native also is a three-time all-state and three all-conference selection and owns three school records in track and field. Fournier enters Illinois as one of the most decorated freshman in the recruiting class. The Colchester, Conn., native is a two-time national long jump champion and a six-time Connecticut State Champion in the long jump, triple jump, high jump and 100 meters. Fournier also won the New England High School Championship twice in the long and is the state record holder with a leap of 25'00.25".

Vertical Jumps

Brandon Lloyd returns after missing last season with a broken leg. The sophomore brings the fourth-best high jump mark in school history (6'11.75") with him as well as a wealth of confidence as he hopes to claim his first Big Ten title on the track after helping the Illinois Football team take the Big Ten Championship on the Gridiron.

Kyle Kopatz hopes to remain healthy for his 2002 campaign. If he does, he could join Lloyd as a scorer at both Big Ten Championships meets.

Illinois returns four promising pole vaulters for 2002. Last year Marty Keifer improved by over a foot during the course of the season and finished the year with a fourth-place finish at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships. Joining Keifer will be redshirt sophomore Garrett Nelson and junior K.C. Halik. Both Nelson and Halik, along with Keifer and junior college transfer Adam Pierson should continue to improve under the eye of volunteer coach Bryan Carrel.

The Illini have reason to be excited about their 2002 campaign. With the experience Illinois returns across the board, coupled with the addition many talented newcomers, the Illini plan to be a force at not only the conference level, but are ready to make their presence felt on the national scene.