Results | Photos

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Fighting Illini men's track and field team's pursuit of a third straight Hy-Vee Cup at the Drake Relays got off to strong start on Friday. The Orange and Blue's 4x800m relay got the team on the scoreboard, while the 4x100m and 4x400m relays both qualified for tomorrow's finals. Illinois also had three competitors in Friday's individual events.

The 4x800m relay team of Malik Lee, Tony Zea, Trevor Kuehr and Garrett Lee ran 7:33.92, finishing eighth and giving the Illini one team point towards the Hy-Vee Cup. M. Lee started the race with a 1:54.54 opening leg. Zea's second leg of 1:51.43 brought the Illini into the mix for team points. Kuehr ran 1:55.40 to keep the Orange and Blue within striking distance and G. Lee closed in 1:52.56, sealing the eighth-place finish.

Both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays won their preliminary heats to advance to tomorrow's finals. The team of Maurice Watkins, Brandon Stryganek, Cole Henderson and DJ Zahn covered one lap around Drake Stadium's blue oval in 40.20, qualifying in fourth for Saturday's final. The 4x400m relay team of Cam Viney, David Kendziera, Joe McAsey and Zahn head into the final with the top seed after running a season-best time of 3:05.63 in prelims.

Illinois' participants in Friday's individual events were Ben Dodds, Jonathan Wells and Aaron Wilks. Wells produced the highest finish of the three, finishing seventh in the long jump with a leap of 7.33m (24' 0.75"). Dodds and Wilks each competed in the javelin, finishing ninth and 21st, respectively. Dodds recorded a throw of 61.85m (202' 11"), while Wilks registered a toss of 54.16m (177' 8").

The Illini will return to action tomorrow beginning at 9:00 a.m. with Brandon Noe in the discus. Also competing on the final day of the Drake Relays will be Wells in the high jump (10 a.m.), the sprint medley relay (10:20 a.m.), Dylan Lafond in the steeplechase (10:53 a.m.), Davis Fraker in the hammer throw (12 p.m.), the distance medley relay (12:30 p.m.), Branden Tanthavong in the triple jump (1 p.m.), David Kendziera and Cam Viney in the 400m hurdles (1:13 p.m.), the 4x100m relay (3:20 p.m.) and the 4x400m relay (3:52 p.m.).

Hy-Vee Cup Standings
1. Loyola (Ill.) - 10
2. Arkansas - 8
3. Nebraska - 6
4. Iowa - 5
5. Ohio State - 4
6. Iowa State - 3
7. Wyoming - 2
8. Illinois - 1

Illinois Results
Friday, April 24
Q/q = qualified for finals

4x100m Relay (Prelims)
4. Maurice Watkins, Brandon Stryganek, Cole Henderson, DJ Zahn - 40.20 Q

4x400m Relay (Prelims)
1. Cam Viney, David Kendziera, Joe McAsey, DJ Zahn - 3:05.63 Q

4x800m Relay
8. Malik Lee, Tony Zea, Trevor Kuehr, Garrett Lee - 7:33.92 - 1 team point

Long Jump
7. Jonathan Wells - 7.33m (24' 0.75")

Javelin
9. Ben Dodds - 61.85m (202' 11")
21. Aaron Wilks - 54.16m (177' 8")

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 points
14. George Wayda - 6,600 points