June 5, 2007
Illinois Bio Updates for the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships (PDF)
Download Free Acrobat Reader
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of Illinois Fighting Illini men's track & field team will have three athletes competing at this week's NCAA Outdoor Championships, held June 6-9 in Sacramento, Calif. Representing the Orange and Blue at the national meet are juniors Trent Hoerr (10,000m) and Andrew Zollner (Pole Vault), and sophomore Lesiba Masheto (400m).
Masheto appears to be the best hope for All-America honors for Coach Wayne Angel's Illini squad, as he is seeded fourth in the 400m. Masheto was the 2007 Big Ten Outdoor 400m Champion and was an All-American on the event indoors with a fifth place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships. His top time of 45.41, which he ran in the season-opening Willie Williams Invite back on March 17, was the top time in the nation for much of the season and is still ranked fourth heading into the championships.
"Shoes (Masheto) has an excellent opportunity to improve on his fifth place performance at indoor nationals," Angel said. "He is in the best shape of his life. All he needs to do now is to have faith in his training and himself, and everything else will take care of itself."
Masheto will run in the fourth of five preliminary heats on Wednesday (June 6), with the top two from each heat, plus the next six best times advancing to the semifinals. The semis, which are run on Friday (June 8), will advance the top three from each heat, plus the next two fastest times to the final. The final is on Saturday, June 9.
Hoerr is seeded 17th in the 10,000m with a career-best time of 28:55.22, run at the Stanford Invite on March 30. The junior from Morton, Ill., took second in the 10,000m at the Big Ten Championships. He will run in the final on Thursday, June 7.
"This is a great step in Trent's progression," said UI assistant coach Wendel McRaven. "Coming into the year, qualifying for nationals was very high on his list of goals. Now the next step is to earn All-America honors."
Zollner earned the trip to Sacramento with a career-best vault of 16'7.25" (5.06m) at the NCAA Mideast regional to finish in second place. He is seeded 25th heading into the pole vault qualifying on Wednesday, were competition will run until 16 or fewer vaulters remain at a change. The final will be on Friday, June 8.
"Andrew has really stepped up to another level this year," said UI assistant coach Mike Turk. "It's great to see someone set goals, work hard, overcome adversity, and achieve his goals. I'm sure Andrew will represent the University of Illinois well."
A meet schedule, start lists and live results for the NCAA Outdoor Championships can be found at ncaasports.com or hornetsports.com. In addition, a complete recap with quotes and Illinois results will be available following each day of competition at fightingillini.com.
Illini Schedule at 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships
Wednesday, June 6
6 p.m. Men's 400m Prelims (Masheto)
Five heats - top two in each heat, plus the next six fastest times advance to semifinals
6:30 p.m. Men's Pole Vault Qualifying (Zollner)
Competition continues until 16 or fewer remain at a bar change
Thursday, June 7
8 p.m. Men's 10,000m Final (Hoerr)
Friday, June 8
5:55 p.m. Men's 400m Semifinals
Two heats - top three in each heat, plus the next two fastest times advance to final
6:15 p.m. Men's Pole Vault Final
Saturday, June 9
10:37 a.m. Men's 400m Final
* All times Pacific
