USTFCCCA Release

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Fighting Illini men's track and field team has earned the No. 23 ranking in the latest United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) National Team Computer Rankings. Illinois makes its season debut in the rankings after an outstanding weekend at the Iowa State Classic.

The Illlini recorded 15 top-10 finishes, a number of career bests and five performances that ranked within Illinois' all-time top-10 at the Iowa State Classic. Joe McAsey highlighted the weekend with the second-fastest 800m in school history, clocking 1:47.29. That performance is the seventh best in the nation this season and earned McAsey the Big Ten's Track Athlete of the Week honor. DJ Zahn (400m), Ian Barnett (3,000m), Paul Zeman (5,000m) and the 4x400m relay team of David Kendziera, Kenneth Allen, McAsey and Zahn also cracked Illinois' all-time lists.

This marks the first time since the third poll of last year's indoor campaign that Illinois has been ranked in the top 25 by the USTFCCCA. The No. 23 ranking is also the highest the Illini have ever had in the fourth poll of the indoor season.

Illinois is one of four Big Ten schools in the newest rankings. No. 8 Penn State, No. 15 Wisconsin and No. 18 Nebraska are the other three conference squads to be recognized.

Illinois will compete in its final meets of the regular season this weekend before the Big Ten Championships. The Illini will host Orange and Blue Open Saturday, Feb. 21 at the UI Armory, while a small contingent will head to Notre Dame for the Alex Wilson Invite the same day.