Feb. 7, 2006

Champaign, Ill. - After defeating Alabama two weeks ago at the Carle/Health Alliance Classic and then splitting up to compete in New York and South Bend last week, the Fighting Illini men's track and field team have broke into the Trackwire Top 25 rankings for the first time this season. The rankings, released by Trackwire on Monday, have the Illini tied with UCLA for 24th in the country.

Other Big Ten programs listed in the Top 25 are: Wisconsin (3), Michigan (10) and Indiana (19t). The Hoosiers are tied with Alabama, a team head coach Wayne Angel's squad defeated at home two weeks ago by a score of 189-140.

Along with the top-25 ranking, several Illini athletes and relays were ranked by Trackwire in the Dandy Dozen.

Senior Abe Jones, currently ranked as number one in the world in the 500-meter run, is ranked No. 12 in the 400-meters. Sophomore long-jumper Nick Brown also received accolades as the Dandy Dozen lists him No. 8 in the long jump event.

Along with Jones' and Brown's top-12 individual rankings, the Illini 4x400 relay group of Jones, junior Nathan Vadeboncoeur, and seniors Tramell Smith and Adrian Walker, were rewarded as the Dandy Dozen's No. 2 relay in the nation behind LSU.

The Illinois distance medley relay of seniors Jason Bill, Tim Hobbs, Smith and Walker are ranked No. 10.

Smith, who runs the third-leg of the 4x400 and the DMR, currently leads the world with the fastest 600-meter time this year (1:17.00).

The Illini travel to Ames, Iowa to compete in the Cyclone Classic hosted by Iowa State on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10-11. The meet is set to kick off at 2 p.m. on Friday.