Track & Field News Rankings

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini men's track and field team is off to a good start in the outdoor season, earning wins at the UNLV Spring Invitational and the EIU Big Blue Classic. For their efforts, the Illini are ranked sixth in the Track & Field News dual meet rankings.

At the UNLV Spring Invitational, Illinois tallied 160.5 points to edge Weber State in the team standings. The Illini got event titles from Brandon Stryganek (200m), Jannis Toepfer (5,000m), David Kendziera (110m hurdles, 400m hurdles), Jonathan Wells (long jump), Brandon Noe (discus), Davis Fraker (hammer throw), Ben Dodds (javelin) and the 4x100m relay (Mo Maat, Stryganek, Cole Henderson, DJ Zahn). The Orange and Blue had 13 other competitors score points en route to the win.

The Illini had similar results at the EIU Big Blue Classic, winning the event with 180 points. Stryganek (100m), Wells (high jump, long jump), Aaron Wilks (javelin), the 4x100m relay (Maat, Stryganek, Watkins, Zahn) and the 4x400m relay (Cam Viney, Matt Burns, Kendziera, Joe McAsey) came away with wins, but Illinois' depth showed as 23 other competitors scored points in their events.

The Illini are the top-ranked team not from Southeastern Conference or the state of California. They are also the top team in the Big Ten, edging conference indoor champion Nebraska by one spot. Ohio State (14th), Iowa (18th) and Indiana (21st) give the conference five ranked teams.

Illinois will head to Tucson, Arizona this weekend for the Jim Click Shootout, hosted by the University of Arizona. Competition will begin at 11 a.m. PT on Saturday, April 11 with the hammer throw. Track events get underway at 12:30 p.m. PT with the 3,000m steeplechase.

Track & Field News Dual Meet Rankings
(as of 4/7/15)
1. Texas A&M
2. UCLA
3. Cal
4. Arkansas
5. Florida
6. Illinois
7. Nebraska
8. Akron
9. Texas
10. Long Beach State
11. Washington
12. Texas Tech
13. LSU
14. Ohio State
15. Oregon
16. Miami
17. Kansas State
18. Iowa
19. Wichita State
20. Oklahoma
21. Indiana
22. Princeton
23. Florida State
24. Eastern Michigan
25. Navy