Feb. 9, 2008
Complete Results
New Balance Invite Complete Results (PDF)
NEW YORK - Illinois men's track and field team concluded competition in one of the nation's elite indoor meets, with a number of strong performances on Saturday at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational at the Armory Track.
Junior Gakologelwang Masheto was named Male Athlete of the Meet after setting an NCAA record in the 500m on Friday with a time of 1:00.82 that easily won in a field of 56 runners. Masheto's mark also set the Armory Track record and the Illinois school record, and is the currently the fastest time in the world.
On Saturday, the 4x800m relay had the highest Illinois finish as the squad of Brian Beaird, Mike Murray, Scott Phelps and Isaiah Robbins timed 7:38.24 to take fifth.
"We are definitely continuing to improve," head coach Wayne Angel said. "We're moving up the Big Ten rank and coming together as a team. We will be ready for the conference championships to do what we are capable of doing."
Junior Dominique Worlsey finished ninth overall in the 200m finals with a time of 21.60 seconds. Worsley ran his best 200m of the season in preliminaries, timing 21.45 seconds.
Senior Nick Brown had a ninth-place finish in the triple jump, leaping 50 feet, 8 3/4 inches in his first time competing in the event this season.
Other Illinois highlights include senior Trent Hoerr finishing 10th in the 3,000m with a time of 8:08.41 and redshirt freshman Matt McHugh setting a new personal best in the weight throw, marking a distance of 56 feet, 11 1/4 inches to finish 16th.
Illinois will compete next weekend, Feb. 15-16, at the ISU Classic in Ames, Iowa.
