EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Fighting Illini men's track and field team is in third place following the second day of competition at the 2015 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Heading into the final day of action, Illinois has 35 points, trailing only Nebraska (44) and Minnesota (38). Additionally, from Saturday's preliminary running action, the Orange and Blue had 11 qualifiers for Sunday's finals.

Brandon Stryganek and DJ Zahn both qualified for two sprint event finals. Stryganek ran a season-best time of 10.37 in the 100m to qualify in second for tomorrow's final. Mo Maat qualified third in the event with a time of 10.43.

Stryganek and Zahn each qualified for the 200m final. Zahn will enter Sunday's race with the second-fastest time after winning his heat of prelims in 20.54. Stryganek posted the fourth-best preliminary race, clocking a season-best time of 20.83.

Zahn's second individual final will be the 400m. He enters tomorrow's final with the fastest time in the field after cruising to a personal-best performance of 45.51 in the prelims. That run moves him into fourth on Illinois' all-time list.

In the 800m, defending Big Ten Champion Joe McAsey has given himself an opportunity to defend his title, qualifying for the final with a 1:49.34 victory in his preliminary round. In the 1,500m, Garrett Lee grabbed the last spot in the final with a 3:49.67 race.

The hurdling duo of David Kendziera and Cam Viney each qualified for both the 110m and 400m hurdle finals. Kendziera ran a lifetime-best 13.74 in the 110m hurdles to qualify in second for the final and move into fifth on Illinois' all-time list. Viney was right behind him, qualifying third in 13.79. In the 400m hurdles, Kendziera again led the way with a personal-best time of 50.64, the fastest time in prelims. Viney posted the second-best preliminary time, clocking 50.91.

There was only one running event final during Saturday's scheduled action. In the 3,000m steeplechase, Dylan Lafondused a ferocious kick down the home stretch to finish second and net the Illini eight points in the team race. His time of 8:46.53 is the sixth-best performance in the history of Illinois. Jannis Toepfer also competed in the event and, despite running the 10,000m less than 24 hours prior and racing in just a five-man heat, finished ninth in 9:05.27.

In the field events, Jonathan Wells scored 11 points for the Orange and Blue while simultaneously competing in both the high jump. Wells finished tied for second in the high jump with a clearance of 2.17m (7' 1.50"), good for seven points. In the long jump, he bounded 7.38m (24' 2.50") to finish fifth and collect an additional four points.

The final points of the day for the Illini were a culmination of two days of work. In the decathlon, Corey Hammon finished fourth, good for five points, while George Wayda finished 14th. Hammon racked up 7,153 points, surpassing his own school record mark of 7,150 points. Wayda's two-day total reached 6,738 points.

The second day of the decathlon began with the 110m hurdles, in which Hammon and Wayda posted the fourth- and 10th-fastest times in the field. Hammon's 15.07 performance netted him 842 points, while Wayda's 15.67 was good for 770 points.

In the discus portion of the decathlon, Wayda and Hammon each posted personal-bests to finish fourth and fifth, respectively. Wayda's mark of 39.51m (129' 7.") added 655 points to his total, while Hammon's throw of 39.11m (128' 4") gave him an additional 646 points.

In the pole vault, the Illini duo again recorded top-10 finishes. Wayda led the way again, clearing a personal-best 4.55m (14' 11") to tie for sixth and score 775 points. Hammon tied for eighth with a clearance of 4.45m (14' 7.25"), good for 746 points.

The javelin was the third straight event in which the Orange and Blue pair finished among the top ten. Wayda's heave of 50.29m (165' 0") was good for fourth-best in the field and 593 points, while Hammon's toss of 48.38m (158' 9") was ninth-best and garnered him 565 points.

In the final event of the competition, the 1,500m, Hammon and Wayda notched 10th- and 12th-place finishes, respectively. Hammon clocked 4:59.68 to collect his final 562 points, while Wayda ran 5:01.07 for 554 points.

The Illini will return to Ralph Young Track and Field for the final day of the 2015 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championship on Sunday. The last day of competition starts at 11:00 a.m. ET with the shot put. Running event finals begin at 12:55 p.m. with the 4x100m relay.

Big Ten Championships Team Standings
1. Nebraska - 44
2. Minnesota - 38
3. Illinois - 35
4. Michigan St. - 30
5. Purdue - 28
6. Wisconsin - 27
7. Iowa - 20
8. Michigan - 14
9. Ohio State - 13
10. Rutgers - 10
11. Penn State - 9
12. Indiana - 5

Illinois Results at 2015 Big Ten Outdoor Championships

Saturday, May 16
Q/q = qualified for finals

100m (Prelims)
2. Brandon Stryganek - 10.37 Q
3. Mo Maat - 10.43 q
13. Cole Henderson - 10.71

200m (Prelims)
2. DJ Zahn - 20.54 Q
4. Brandon Stryganek - 20.83 q
21. Maurice Watkins - 22.10

400m (Prelims)
1. DJ Zahn - 45.51 Q

800m (Prelims)
5. Joe McAsey - 1:49.34 Q
27. Trevor Kuehr - 1:54.79

1,500m (Prelims)
9. Garrett Lee - 3:49.67 q
11. Paul Zeman - 3:51.47
21. Tony Zea - 3:54.65
22. Malik Lee - 3:54.92

110m Hurdles (Prelims)
2. David Kendziera - 13.74 Q
3. Cam Viney - 13.79 Q
12. Jonathan Wells - 14.70

400m Hurdles (Prelims)
1. David Kendziera - 50.64 Q
2. Cam Viney - 50.91 Q

3,000m Steeplechase
2. Dylan Lafond - 8:46.53 - 8 team points
9. Jannis Toepfer - 9:05.27

High Jump
T-2. Jonathan Wells - 2.17m (7' 1.50") - 7 team points
10. Parker Deloye - 2.08m (6' 9.75")

Long Jump
5. Jonathan Wells - 7.38m (24' 2.50") - 4 team points

Discus
9. Brandon Noe - 53.48m (175' 5")
25. Michael Hyc - 45.59m (149' 7")

Decathlon - 110m Hurdles
4. Corey Hammon - 15.07 [842 pts.]
10. George Wayda - 15.67 [770 pts.]

Decathlon - Discus
4. George Wayda - 39.51m (129' 7") [655 pts.]
5. Corey Hammon - 39.11m (128' 4") [646 pts.]

Decathlon - Pole Vault
T-6. George Wayda - 4.55m (14' 11") [775 pts.]
T-8. Corey Hammon - 4.45m (14' 7.25") [746 pts.]

Decathlon - Javelin
6. George Wayda - 50.29m (165' 0") [593 pts.]
9. Corey Hammon - 48.38m (158' 9") [565 pts.]

Decathlon - 1,500m
10. Corey Hammon - 4:59.68 [562 pts.]
12. George Wayda - 5:01.07 [554 pts.]

Decathlon (Final)
4. Corey Hammon - 7,153 pts.* - 5 team points
14. George Wayda - 6,738 pts.

Friday, May 15
10,000m
3. Jannis Toepfer - 29:30.36 - 6 team points
14. Brendan McDonnell - 30.26.72

Hammer Throw
4. Davis Fraker - 66.46m (218' 0.75") - 5 team points
22. Matsen Dziedzic - 54.95m (180' 3.75")
23. Michael Hyc - 49.69m (163' 0.50")

*School record