June 10, 2008
NCAA Championships Host Page
NCAA Championnships Bios (PDF)
Illinois Performancee List (PDF)
2008 NCAA Track & Field Championships
Wednesday, June 11 - Saturday, June 14
Drake Stadium, Des Moines, Iowa
The Illinois men's track & field team will be represented by juniors Gakologelwang Masheto (400m) and Andrew Zollner (pole vault) at this week's NCAA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa from June 11-14. Both Masheto and Zollner will be making their second straight trip in their signature event at the national meet as each competed as sophomores last season. Masheto will be looking to earn All-America honors again this year, as the Botswana native placeed fourth at the 2007 NCAA Championships with a career-best 400m time of 45.41.
The NCAA Championships will be aired live by CBS on the final day of competition from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday. The CBS College Sports Network will also have live coverage from 7-10 p.m. on Friday. Live stats can be found throughout the meet at www.godrakebulldogs.com.
Zollner begins competition on Wednesday with the qualifying round of the pole vault beginning at 4:15 p.m. Masheto will compete Wednesday as well, racing in the first round of the 400m beginning at 6:45 p.m. Both athletes will have Thursday off, as the pole vault final is on Friday evening along with the 400m semifinals.
Illinois NCAA Championships Competition Schedule
Wednesday, June 11
4:15 p.m. Men's Pole Vault Qualifying Round (Zollner)
6:45 p.m. Men's 400m Round One (Masheto)
Friday, June 13
4:15 p.m. Men's Pole Vault Final
8:25 p.m. Men's 400m Semifinals
Saturday, June 14
3:12 p.m. Men's 400m Final
Illinois NCAA Championships Competitors 2008 Bios
Gakologelwang Masheto, 400m (Jr., Muan, Botswana)
Seeking his third All-America accolade in the 400m after placing fourth at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships and fifth at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Championships...Advanced to this year's NCAA field by placing fourth in the 400m at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships...Took second in the 400m at the 2008 Big Ten Outdoor Championships...Four-time Big Ten champion (2008 indoor - 400m; 2007 outdoor - 400m, 4x400m; 2007 indoor - 600m)...Set an NCAA indoor record in the 500m this season at the New Balance Invitational in February (1:00.82)...Missed the end of the 2008 indoor season and beginning of the outdoor season due to a stress fracture in his foot...Will compete for Botswana at the 2008 Beijng Olympics...Goes by "Shoes".
Andrew Zollner, Pole Vault (Jr., Sparta, Ill.)
Earned an automatic NCAA Championships berth in the pole vault for the second straight year after placing fifth at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships with a personal-best height of 17'1" (5.21m)...2007 NCAA Mideast Regional runner-up in the pole vault...Also a decathlete for the Illini, placing sixth at the 2008 Big Ten Championships.
