PhotosDES MOINES, Iowa - The Fighting Illini men's track and field team continued competition at the Drake Relays on Thursday. Of the six student-athletes the Orange and Blue had participating in Thursday's events, two came away with personal-best performances.
The highlight of the day came in the night session during the 5,000m. Ian Barnett broke the tape in the event with a time of 13:56.16, outdistancing the runner-up performer by six seconds. That time moves him into third on Illinois' all-time list. Fellow Illini Jannis Toepfer finished third with a time of 14:08.13.
"We were planning to try and get under 14," said Barnett. "Drake Relays is always an incredible atmosphere. This is the place to run fast and we were able to do that tonight."
Also in action under the lights of Drake Stadium, Brendan McDonnell and Will Brewster competed in the 10,000m. McDonnell finished sixth in a personal-best time of 30:16.28, while Brewster, making his debut in the event, posted a 30:49.49 performance.
The action of the Illini began early on Thursday morning, as Corey Hammon and George Wayda competed in the second day of the decathlon. After accumulating a score of 3,543 on the event's opening day, Hammon wrapped up his weekend with an 11th-place finish, tallying 6,708 points. Wayda did not record a score due to skipping the discus competition.
Day two of the decathlon started with the 110m hurdles, in which Wayda and Hammon finished ninth and 10th, respectively. Wayda ran a personal-best 15.43, amassing 798 points, while Hammon clocked a time of 15.49, collecting 791 points.
In the discus, Hammon recorded a career-best throw of 36.67m (120' 3") to finish 12th, accumulating 597 points.
In the pole vault, Hammon and Wayda each cleared 4.50m (14' 9") to accrue 760 points. Hammon finished tied for fifth, while Wayda finished seventh due to number of misses.
Wayda finished fourth in the javelin with a throw of 54.82m (179' 10"), good for 660 points. Hammon was 12th in the event with a heave of 46.30m (151' 11"), adding 534 points to his total.
In the decathlon's final event, the 1,500m run, Wayda and Hammon finished 19th and 20th, respectively. Wayda crossed the finish line in 5:13.38, good for 485 points, while Hammon finished right behind him in 5:13.73, recording 483 points.
The Illini will have competitors return to action tomorrow as they pursue their third consecutive Hy-Vee Cup. Friday's action will feature Orange and Blue competitors in the prelims of the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, the finals of the 4x800m and distance medley relays, the long jump and the javelin.
Illinois Results
Thursday, April 23
5,000m
1. Ian Barnett - 13:56.16
3. Jannis Toepfer - 14:08.13
10,000m
6. Brendan McDonnell - 30:16.28
12. Will Brewster - 30:49.49
Decathlon
11. Corey Hammon - 6,708
