April 19, 2004

Jason Bill and Nathan Vadeboncoeur competed at the Mt. SAC Relays over the weekend in Walnut, Calif. Bill ran 14:06.98 in the 5,000m run, with the time ranking as the seventh best 5,000m time in school history and qualifies the Buda, Ill. native for regionals. Vadeboncoeur won his 400m heat and finished fifth overall with a time of 47.41s which is a season-best mark.

"Jason ran very well," assistant coach Paul Pilkington said. "It was his first 5K race outdoors and he ran well under the regional qualifying time. It was a field of over 50, so he was running in lanes two or three quite a bit. He knows he can run faster especially with a smaller field."

Pilkington continued, "Nathan raced Saturday when it was rainy and cool and he won his flight. It was a good field and no one ran under 47 seconds. He did a great job in the wet, cold conditions."

The Illini will compete at next weekend's Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa.