Jan. 12, 2005
It's no secret that Illinois head men's track and field coach Wayne Angel is excited about the upcoming season; and with good reason as the Illini have the lions' share of their Big Ten scorers returning in addition to some outstanding recruits and transfers to strengthen an already talented group of warriors.
"You're looking at a team with some people who are able to compete at the top level in both the Big Ten and the nation." Angel said in assessing the look of his second UI indoor squad. "The balance of the team after that depends on the development of our promising newcomers and returnees. My staff and I will be asking a lot of them and hopefully they will respond and accept the challenge."
On paper it appears the Illini could very well be in a position to battle for a top-two finish at the Big Ten Indoor Championships in West Lafayette, Ind. on the final weekend in February. Leading the proven veterans are Big Ten Champion Abe Jones and Regional Champion Adrian Walker, both of whom earned All-American honors last year in the 400m hurdles in Sacramento, Calif. They will be joined by the supporting cast which includes NCAA qualifiers Jason Bill and Andre English.
In addition, several high conference placers return including Steve Weatherford, the football team's punter who placed fourth in the heptathlon; Zach Glavash who placed second in the 600 meters as a freshman; Eric DiSilvestro who was fourth in the pole vault; Trammel Smith who was third in the 800 meters; Aaron King who took fifth in the 800 meters; Nathan Vadeboncoeur last year's fourth place finisher in the 400 meters.
The distance corps is bolstered by junior miler, Tim Hobbs, who has overcome a series of physical ailments, engaged in his first extensive uninterrupted training period as an Illini this fall and will continue to move forward towards a great season. Hobbs is backed by Jon Houseworth -eighth place in steeplechase at the conference meet, Kris Cunningham and Trent Hoerr, a finalist in World Junior Cross Country championships.
Heading the list of promising returnees is Jeremy Kruidenier of Champaign. Kruidenier missed the finals in the 800 meters by a hundredth of a second and is expected to step up considerably this winter.
Kruidenier is joined in the category of promising returnees by Charles Kurlinkus -high jump; Kurt Glesne -shot and discus; Nick Byrnes -hammer and weight throw; Kenny Johnson -sprints; Josh Fournier -long jump and sprints; Dan Stanley -sprints; Clint Cherco -heptathlon; Bryan Pratt and Anthony Young -hurdles. Mike Kelley, Ryan Giuliano, Tim Kelly and Arjun Majumdar -distance.
Then there are the newcomers. At the top of the list are two college transfers, distance ace Seth Pilkington, son of Illinois Cross Country coach Paul Pilkington, who formerly ran for the University of Oregon for one season and Maciej Sniegorski of Poland.
Pilkington brings an impressive resume to Champaign. The high school All-American finished sixth in the Foot Locker Nationals, was the Golden west 3200 meter champion and is the five-time Utah state champion. His personal best is 8:55 in the 3200 meters and 3:52 in the 1500 meters. Sniegorski, who hails from Gliwice, Poland, has turned in some impressive personal bests, running 3:52 in the 1500 meters and 8:09 in the 3000 meters. In addition, Ed Mastny, a transfer from Southern Illinois, brings some added fire power in the heptathlon. Mastny placed third in the Missouri Valley Championships in the decathlon.
There are also several freshman who will add considerable depth to the Illini picture. Heading the list is long jump and triple jump All-American Nick Brown, a two-time Illinois State Champion from Proviso East; Pierre Bush -Indiana State Champion 100 meters; Charles Bailey Jr. -Indiana State Champion 110 hurdles; Paul Johnson -five-time Oklahoma State Champion 400 meters; Jon Regan -Illinois State Champion-high jump; John Adamczyk -Illinois State Champion pole vault; and Durrell Williams -long jump.
Other newcomers include Justin Aronson, Brian, Brodeur, Ian Clausen, Morgan Ferris, Peter Garde, Art Glaz, Chad Gridley, Brad Simmons, Scott Puhse, Matt Flaherty, Justin Kozak, Matt Ragusa, Stephen Rogers, Dan Stock, Brad Topol, Eric Wallor, Dan Walters and Andrew Zollner.
