June 26, 2011
KINGSTON, Jamaica - On Sunday night at the Jamaican National Championships, Andrew Riley won the 110m hurdles title and qualified to compete for Team Jamaica at the World Championships. The Illini rising senior clocked a mark of 13.36 in the final, edging Dwight Thomas (13.38) for the crown in his hometown of Kingston, Jamaica. By placing in the top three, he earned a spot on his country's national team for the World Championships, which will be held in Daegu, South Korea, from Aug. 27-Sept. 4.
"It is a big honor for Andrew to be his nation's champion," hurdles coach Tonja Buford-Bailey said. "He has had a great season, and we have worked on a lot of things to get to this point. This will be his first major national team, so it is really exciting for him. He was able to beat the national record-holder [Dwight Thomas] in a head-to-head competition, which really says a lot about what Andrew can do against top competition."
Riley qualified for the final earlier in the day with a mark of 13.57, placing him in lane three for the final. His final time of 13.36 was the second-fastest wind-legal mark of his career, coming in only behind his school-record time of 13.32. Riley adds his first national title to his growing trophy case, which includes a pair of NCAA titles and seven All-America awards. He just missed his third NCAA title earlier in June, taking second in the 110m hurdles in Des Moines.
"It's great for Illinois track and field to be represented at the World Championships," Illinois men's head coach Mike Turk said. "It is quite an accomplishment for him to attain at his age, and I am so proud of him."
At the USA Junior Championships, rising sophomore Cody Klein tied for second in the pole vault with a mark of 16-0 ¾ (4.90m), but lost in a jump off to Ohio State's Cody Marshall for the second spot on Team USA for the 2011 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships. Klein will serve as an alternate for the team at the meet, which will be held from July 22-24 in Miramar, Fla. His teammate Matthew Bane tied for ninth with a mark of 15-7 (4.75m).
The Illini also had a pair of throwers in action at the USA Junior Championships. Incoming freshman Nathan Loe placed sixth in the hammer throw with a toss of 195-10 (59.69m) while Brandon Noe, who redshirted last season, finished eighth in the discus with a mark of 174-0 (53.04m).
Cody Wisslead reached the semifinal of the 400m hurdles at the USA Championships in Eugene, Ore., where he finished in 13th with a time of 51.55 on Saturday. Wisslead qualified for the semifinal with a time of 51.00 during the first round at Hayward Field. The 400m hurdles Big Ten champion wrapped up his outdoor season in the event with that performance.
Illini Results at National Meets
Jamaican Championships 110m Hurdles FINAL | Full Results
1. Andrew Riley 13.36 *National Champion
USA Junior Championships Pole Vault FINAL | Full Results
T2. Cody Klein 16-0 ¾ (4.90m)
T9. Matthew Bane 15-7 (4.75m)
USA Junior Championships Hammer Throw FINAL | Full Results
6. Nathan Loe 195-10 (59.69m)
USA Junior Championships Discus FINAL | Full Results
8. Brandon Noe 174-0 (53.04m)
USA Championships 400m Hurdles Semifinal | Full Results
13. Cody Wisslead 51.55
