Complete Results

Final Results | Highlights | Coach Turk Interview | Barnett Interview

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini men's track and field team cruised to its fourth win of the outdoor season, claiming victory at the Illinois Twilight. On a day when head coach Mike Turk and his staff recognized the seniors for their contributions to the program, the entire team played an important role in earning the win. The Orange and Blue scored 247 points, nearly double that of runner-up EIU, to easily claim the team title.

On the track, the Illini came away with four event wins but were dominant in nearly every event. Mo Maat won the 100m in a new personal-best time of 10.43, moving him into ninth on Illinois' all-time performance list. DJ Zahn was also victorious, winning the 200m in 20.63. That time bumps Zahn up to second on Illinois' all-time list, just .01 back of the top mark. Brandon Stryganek finished second in the 200m at 21.12 and David Kendziera was fifth in 21.61.

Cam Viney came away with a win in the 400m despite running in the second of three heats, finishing in a personal-best of 47.05. Matt Burns also had a lifetime-best performance, finishing sixth in 48.94.

The 800m featured a trio of Illini competitors that scored points for the team. Malik Lee was the top finisher for the Orange and Blue, finishing third in 1:52.64. Trevor Kuehr (1:53.36) and Tony Zea (1:53.69) each recorded career-bests en route to sixth- and ninth-place finishes, respectively.

The 1,500m also featured a new addition to Illinois' all-time performances list. Ian Barnett won the event in 3:44.61, moving into ninth all-time. Garrett Lee was runner-up in a personal-best performance of 3:45.82, while Joe McAsey finished fourth in 3:48.42.

The 3,000m had a trio of Illini scoring points with Alex Gold leading the charge with a third-place performance of 8:30.57. Paul Zeman was fifth with a personal-best 8:33.09, while Brendan McDonnell had a lifetime-best time of 8:39.28 to finish sixth.

Will Brewster and Joe Cowlin each ran career-bests en route to scoring points for the Orange and Blue in the 5,000m. Brewster ran 14:38.89 to finish third, while Cowlin finished in seventh at 14:58.82.

Four members of Illinois scored points in the 110m hurdles. Cam Viney was the top collegiate competitor, finishing second in 13.89. That time moves him into seventh on the Illini's all-time list. David Kendziera was right behind Viney, finishing third in 13.99. Jonathan Wells (14.55) and Corey Hammon (15.03) each recorded personal-bests to finish eighth and 11th, respectively.

The 4x100m relay team of Maat, Stryganek, Maurice Watkins and Zahn won in a time of 39.60. That time broke the previous Illinois Soccer and Track Stadium facility record of 39.61 set by the Illini last season. The 4x400m relay team of Watkins, Zea, Burns and M. Lee also scored points for the team, finishing fourth in 3:20.00.

In the field events, the Orange and Blue were equally as dominant as on the track. In the high jump, Jonathan Wells finished second with a clearance of 2.04m (6' 8.25"). Parker Deloye was sixth with a leap of 1.99m (6' 6.25").

The pole vault also saw a pair of Illini place-winners. Mitch Mammoser finished third with a huge personal-best of 5.19m (17' 0.25"). Corey Hammon also had a career-best, clearing 4.61m (15' 1.50") to claim 10th.

Wells and Hammon each doubled up on the point-scoring chances in the long jump. Wells won the event with a leap of 7.35m (24' 1.50"), while Hammon's mark of 6.62m (21' 8.75") was good for eighth.

Branden Tanthavong was the lone Illini competitor in the triple jump, coming away with a win after a leap of 14.69m (48' 2.50"). Similarly, Brandon Noe was the sole Orange and Blue student-athlete in the discus and he grabbed a victory with a throw of 53.59m (175' 10").

In the hammer competition, Davis Fraker and Matsen Dziedzic each finished in the top three. Fraker won the event with a new facility record of 65.12m (213' 8"). Dziedzic claimed third place with a heave of 55.75m (182' 11"). Dziedzic's mark moves him into eighth on Illinois' all-time top-10 list. Dziedzic also finished third in the shot put with a toss of 16.59m (54' 5.25").

A trio of Illini earned points for the team in the javelin. Ben Dodds took the event crown with a throw of 62.65m (205' 6"). Aaron Wilks was third with a mark of 60.06m (197' 0"), while George Wayda finished seventh with a fling that measured in at 53.96m (177' 0").

The Orange and Blue will return to action on a short week as they head to the Drake Relays on April 22-25. In each of the last two years, the Illini have returned from Des Moines, Iowa with the Hy-Vee Cup, awarded to the team champion of the event.

Illini Scorers

100m
1. Mo Maat - 10.43

200m
1. DJ Zahn - 20.63
2. Brandon Stryganek - 21.12
5. David Kendziera - 21.61

400m
1. Cam Viney - 47.05
6. Matt Burns - 48.94

800m
3. Malik Lee - 1:52.64
6. Trevor Kuehr - 1:53.36
9. Tony Zea - 1:53.69

1,500m
1. Ian Barnett - 3:44.61
2. Garrett Lee - 3:45.82
4. Joe McAsey - 3:48.42

3,000m
3. Alex Gold - 8:30.57
5. Paul Zeman - 8:33.09
6. Brendan McDonnell - 8:39.28

5,000m
3. Will Brewster - 14:38.89
7. Joe Cowlin - 14:58.82

110m Hurdles
2. Cam Viney - 13.89
3. David Kendziera - 13.99
8. Jonathan Wells - 14.55
11. Corey Hammon - 15.03

4x100m Relay
1. Mo Maat, Brandon Stryganek, Maurice Watkins, DJ Zahn - 39.60*

4x400m Relay
4. Maurice Watkins, Tony Zea, Matt Burns, Malik Lee - 3:20.00

High Jump
2. Jonathan Wells - 2.04m (6' 8.25")
6. Parker Deloye - 1.99m (6' 6.25")

Pole Vault
3. Mitch Mammoser - 5.19m (17' 0.25")
10. Corey Hammon - 4.61m (15' 1.50")

Long Jump
1. Jonathan Wells - 7.35m (24' 1.50")
8. Corey Hammon - 6.62m (21' 8.75")

Triple Jump
1. Branden Tanthavong - 14.69m (48' 2.50")

Shot Put
3. Matsen Dziedzic - 16.59m (54' 5.25")

Discus
1. Brandon Noe - 53.59m (175' 10")

Hammer
1. Davis Fraker - 65.12m (213' 8")*
3. Matsen Dziedzic - 55.75m (182' 11")

Javelin
1. Ben Dodds - 62.65m (205' 6")
3. Aaron Wilks - 60.06m (197' 0")
7. George Wayda - 53.96m (177' 0")

*Facility record