Jan. 23, 2010

Complete Results

Photo Gallery

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois dominated the Carle-Health Alliance Classic on Saturday at the UI Armory, winning the meet by 180 points and notching 10 individual event titles. Sophomore Andrew Riley shined for the Illini and displayed his versatility by winning the 60m, 60m hurdles and long jump. Seniors Greg Shroka (high jump), Scott Phelps (800m) and Casey Fonnesbeck (shot put) juniors Alex Baldwin (pole vault) and Oz Lifshitz (triple jump) and freshmen Bai Kabba (400m) and Boyea Lockett (200m) also picked up event titles to lead the Illini, while junior Matt McHugh set the school record in the weight throw.

For the meet, Illinois scored 284 points, crushing the rest of the field. Pittsburgh was second with 104 points, while Western Kentucky was third (77).

"It was a great team effort," interim head coach Mike Turk said. "Our guys showed a lot of improvement and took a big step forward today. I was really pleased with the results."

Riley competed in the long jump for the first time as an Illini and picked up his first victory of the day with a leap of 23-3 ¼ (7.09m). The Kingston, Jamaica, native then captured the 60m dash title with a personal-best 6.81 and cruised to victory in the 60m hurdles with a time of 7.91, also provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the event.

"Riley is a phenomenal athlete," Turk said. "He is just starting to get his legs back and is well on his way. He is always willing to do whatever we need him to do and had an outstanding day."

McHugh smashed the school record in the weight throw with a mark of 63-2 3/4 (19.27m) and placed second overall in the event. The previous record was 60-4 (18.38m), set by Peter Knaus in 2004 and tied by Nick Byrnes in 2005. McHugh now holds the indoor weight throw record and the outdoor hammer throw school record, which he set last season at the Illinois Invitational.

"Matt crushed the school record, which was a long time coming," Turk said. "He has been working toward that for a couple of years and has even higher goals for himself."

Shroka matched his indoor personal-best in the high jump from earlier this season, again provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Championships with a height of 7-0 ¼ (2.14m). In other field event victories, Fonnesbeck marked 54-10 ¾ in the shot put and Lifshitz leaped 48-4 ½ in the triple jump.

In the 400m, the Illini swept the top four spots and were led by Kabba (49.57). Junior transfer Shane Daniel (49.64) took the runner up spot, freshman Malcolm Taylor (49.77) came in third and junior Dan Jones (49.77) placed fourth.

Illinois was nearly as dominant in the 200m, with Lockett cruising to the title with a performance of 22.02. Jones finished runner-up (22.40), while sophomore Stanley Azie finished third in 22.40 to complete the Illini top-three sweep. Freshman Josh Zinzer was also impressive with a fifth-place time of 22.45.

Phelps won the 800m with a time of 1:54.49, while freshman Ryan Lynn was runner-up in 1:57.36. Illinois took the second through eighth finishes in the 3,000m, led by junior Dan Kremske's runner-up time of 8:23.91. Kremske was edged out by Western Kentucky's Deus Rwaherus for the event title by just 0.11 seconds.

In the pole vault, Illini athletes finished first through fourth led by Baldwin's winning vault of 15-3 (4.65m). The Orange and Blue had three competitors in the heptathlon and were led by a runner-up finish from sophomore Shawn Ledbetter (4,656 points), who improved his previous personal best by over 200 points. Freshman Steve Monte (4,604 points) took third and sophomore Tim Gaumer (4,216 points) finished fifth.

Other notable top-five finishes for the Orange and Blue included Brian Beaird (4:16.02, fourth) and Colin Mickos (4:17.43, fifth) in the mile, Cody Wisslead in the 60m hurdles (8.32, fourth) and the 4x400m relay of Zinzer, Phelps, Beard and Lockett (3:22.38, third).

Up next, the Illini travel to Charleston, Ill. for the Illinois Intercollegiates on Saturday, Jan. 30.

Carle/Health Alliance Classic Team Results
1. ILLINOIS, 284
2. Pittsburgh, 104
3. Western Kentucky, 77
4. Miami, 44
5. Loyola (Ill.), 42
6. SIU-Edwardsville, 36
7. Lincoln (Mo.), 15

Illinois First Place Finishes

60m
1. Andrew Riley, 6.81

200m
1. Boyea Lockett, 22.02

400m
1. Bai Kabba, 49.57

800m
1. Scott Phelps, 1:54.49

60m Hurdles
1. Andrew Riley, 7.91

High Jump
1. Greg Shroka, 7-0 ¼ (2.14m)

Pole Vault
1. Alex Baldwin, 15-3 (4.65m)

Long Jump
1. Andrew Riley, 23-3 ¼ (7.09m)

Triple Jump
1. Oz Lifshitz, 48-4 ½ (14.74m)

Shot Put
1. Casey Fonnesbeck, 54-10 ¾ (16.73m)