AUSTIN, Texas - On the opening day of the NCAA West Preliminary Round, the Fighting Illini men's track and field team had five individuals qualify for the quarterfinals of their respective events. Brandon Stryganek, DJ Zahn, Joe McAsey,David Kendziera and Cam Viney will each be competing for a spot at the NCAA National Championships in Eugene, Oregon tomorrow night.
Zahn had Illinois' best performance on the first day of competition, earning the top seed in the 400m quarterfinals. Zahn cruised to a win in the opening heat of six, tying his season-best time of 45.51. He won his heat by over a second and nearly had as much distance between him and the rest of the 48-man field. Zahn's time bettered No. 2 seed George Caddick of Baylor by eighty-four one-hundredths of a second. Quarterfinals of the 400m will be tomorrow at 6:15 p.m.
In the 400m hurdles, the Orange and Blue duo of Kendziera and Viney each won their respective heats to advance to the quarterfinals. Kendziera won the event's first heat in 50.95, earning the No. 3 seed in the next round. Similarly, Viney won the fourth heat in 51.38, earning the No. 7 seed in the quarters. The quarterfinals of the 400m hurdles will take place tomorrow at 7:45 p.m.
McAsey gave the Illini four quarterfinals qualifiers, finishing with the 16th-fastest time in the 800m. McAsey used a strong kick over the final 150 meters to finish third in the second heat, automatically qualifying for tomorrow's quarterfinals. McAsey finished in 1:49.99, just two one-hundredths of a second ahead of Jesse Jorgensen of Washington State. The 800m quarterfinals will take place tomorrow at 7:15 p.m.
Stryganek earned Illinois' final bid into tomorrow's quarterfinals, finishing 22nd in the 100m. Stryganek finished second in the second heat, clocking 10.33, to automatically qualify for tomorrow's race. The quarterfinals of the 100m will take place tomorrow at 6:45 p.m.
The top-three finishers in each quarterfinal heat of the 200m, 400m, 800m and 400m hurdles, along with the next three fastest times, will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene.
Also representing the Orange and Blue but not qualify for the next round were Mo Maat (100m), Ian Barnett (1,500m),Jannis Toepfer (10,000m) Jonathan Wells (high jump & long jump) and Brandon Noe (discus).
Toepfer just missed qualifying for the NCAA National Championships in the 10,000m. Needing a top-12 finish to advance, Toepfer finished 14th, clocking 30:26.38.
Wells finished tied for 20th in the high jump (2.13m - 6' 11.75") and 35th in the long jump (7.07m (23' 2.50"). Barnett was 34th in the 1,500m (3:54.52), Noe finished 40th in the discus (50.23m - 164' 9") and Maat was 41st in the 100m (10.57).
The Illini will return to action tomorrow for the second day of the NCAA West Preliminary Round. Davis Fraker will get things started for the Orange and Blue at 2 p.m. in the hammer throw, while track events will begin at 5:30 p.m. with Kendziera and Viney in the first round of the 110m hurdles.
A full list of Illinois results and a schedule of remaining Illini competitors can be found below.
Illini Results - Day 1
Q/q = qualified for quarterfinals
100m
22. Brandon Stryganek - 10.33 Q
41. Mo Maat - 10.57
400m
1. DJ Zahn - 45.51 Q
800m
16. Joe McAsey - 1:49.99 Q
1,500m
34. Ian Barnett - 3:54.52
10,000m
14. Jannis Toepfer - 30:26.38
400m Hurdles
3. David Kendziera - 50.95 Q
7. Cam Viney - 51.38 Q
High Jump
T-20. Jonathan Wells - 2.13m (6' 11.75")
Long Jump
35. Jonathan Wells - 7.07m (23' 2.50")
Discus
40. Brandon Noe - 50.23m (164' 9")
Friday, May 29
2:00 p.m. - Hammer Throw (Davis Fraker)
6:00 p.m. - 110m Hurdles First Round (David Kendziera & Cam Viney)
6:15 p.m. - 400m Quarterfinal (DJ Zahn)
6:45 p.m. - 100m Quarterfinal (Brandon Stryganek)
7:15 p.m. - 800m Quarterfinal (Joe McAsey)
7:45 p.m. - 400m Hurdles Quarterfinal (David Kendziera & Cam Viney)
8:25 p.m. - 200m First Round (Brandon Stryganek)
9:30 p.m. - 3,000m Steeplechase (Dylan Lafond)
Saturday, May 30
12:00 p.m. - Javelin (Ben Dodds)
1:00 p.m. - Pole Vault (Mitch Mammoser)
6:00 p.m. - Triple Jump (Branden Tanthavong)
6:00 p.m. - 4x100m Relay Quarterfinal (Maat, Stryganek, Henderson, Zahn)
7:20 p.m. - 110m Hurdles Quarterfinal
7:50 p.m. - 200m Quarterfinal
8:45 p.m. - 5,000m Semifinal (Ian Barnett & Dylan Lafond)
9:45 p.m. - 4x400m Relay (Viney, Kendziera, McAsey, Zahn)
