AUSTIN, Texas - The Fighting Illini men's track and field team qualified five individuals for the NCAA Championships on day two of the NCAA West Preliminary Round. DJ Zahn (400m), David Kendziera (110m hurdles), Cam Viney (110m hurdles), Dylan Lafond (3,000m steeplechase) and Davis Fraker (hammer) will travel to Eugene, Oregon from June 10-13.
Fraker became the Orange and Blue's first NCAA Championships qualifier, finishing eighth in the discus. Fraker unleashed a heave of 64.16m (210' 6") on his first throw of the competition, securing the first trip of his career to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
"Davis didn't have his best day today but he is good enough to have a subpar performance and still get in," said head coach Mike Turk. "His opening throw was a nice, easy throw that qualified him but I think he was pressing a bit on the last couple of throws. The new format of only getting three throws forced us to tinker with warm-ups little bit and I think that got him out of his rhythm. He came through in the end and that's all that matters."
After qualifying for the quarterfinals of the 400m with the fastest time in the field, Zahn cruised to a 46.04 showing to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships. Zahn finished second in his heat and fourth in the field. This marks the second consecutive season that Zahn has qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 400m.
"DJ looked really good today," Turk proclaimed. "He made it look easy. He went out strong and ran a really competitive race. I don't think he extended himself too far, which was smart of him since he has two more races tomorrow. He did what he needed to do to advance to Eugene."
In the 400m hurdles, Kendziera and Viney each put together top-10 performances to advance to Eugene. Kendziera finished tied for third in the field, clocking a career-best 50.00, while Viney was sixth in 50.21. Kendziera's time is the fourth fastest in Illinois history and gives him his first career trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Viney will be making the trip for the second straight season. Kendziera and Viney are the first Illinois duo to qualify for the same NCAA Championships in the 400m hurdlers since 2005.
Lafond earned his first career trip to the NCAA Championships, finishing third in his heat of the 3,000m steeplechase. Lafond's time of 8:44.05 wound up being the third fastest qualifying time and moves him into fifth on Illinois' all-time list.
"We thought Dylan could make a big impact this year," Turk noted. "It was just a matter of him adjusting. Today, he ran a really good, smart race. The race started to string out with about four laps to go and he made a move to put himself into a good position. It came down to the last 200m and he really brought his kick. I am really happy for him for how far he has come after being injured in the fall."
Kendziera and Viney also qualified for the quarterfinals of the 110m hurdles. Kendziera posted the second-fastest time in the opening round, winning the third heat in a wind-aided 13.56, a new personal-best. Viney finished second in the fifth of six heats, clocking ninth-best time in the first round (13.73). The duo will race at 7:20 p.m. on Saturday with a shot to qualify for the NCAA Championships on the line. The top-three finishers in each quarterfinal heat of the 110m hurdles, along with the next three fastest times, will advance to Eugene, Oregon.
"Dave had a huge day," exclaimed Turk "He looked like a man on a mission. He had a big PR in the 110 hurdles and then came back and ran a great 400m hurdles race. Today was the kind of racing we've been looking for out of him. He's been showing it in practice and is really having a great weekend."
"Not to be outdone, Cam also had two really strong races," continued Turk. "They weren't huge personal records like Dave but he was strong enough to get the job done."
"I am really proud of what Dave and Cam have done," explained Turk. "They are really taking it to another level. We have really put together a strong hurdle core over the last five years and those guys are continuing the tradition. It's a really big testament to the work ethics of these guys and Coach Wheatley."
Brandon Stryganek gave the Illini another quarterfinal qualifier, finishing seventh in the prelims of the 200m. He posted a career-best time of 20.65, good for third on Illinois' all-time list. The 200m quarterfinals will take place at 7:50 p.m. on Saturday. The top-three finishers in each quarterfinal heat, along with the next three fastest times, will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene.
Stryganek and Joe McAsey also competed in quarterfinals with hopes of qualifying for the NCAA Championships but both came up short. McAsey finished 16th in the 800m, posting a time of 1:49.45. Stryganek was 17th in the 100m with a time of 10.32.
The Illini will return to action tomorrow for the final day of the NCAA West Preliminary Round. Illinois' day begins at 12:00 p.m. with Ben Dodds competing in the javelin. Track events begin at 6:00 p.m. with the 4x100m relay quarterfinals.
A full list of Illinois results and a schedule of remaining Illini competitors can be found below.
Illini Results
Friday, May 29
* = NCAA Championships qualifiers Q/q = qualified for quarterfinals
100m
17. Brandon Stryganek - 10.32
200m
7. Brandon Stryganek - 20.65 Q
400m
4. DJ Zahn - 46.04*
800m
16. Joe McAsey - 1:49.45
110m Hurdles
2. David Kendziera - 13.56 Q
9. Cam Viney - 13.73 Q
400m Hurdles
T-3. David Kendziera - 50.00*
6. Cam Viney - 50.21*
3,000m Steeplechase
3. Dylan Lafond - 8:44.05*
Hammer
8. Davis Fraker - 64.16m (210' 6")*
Thursday, May 28
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")
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 (David Kendziera & Cam Viney)
7:50 p.m. - 200m Quarterfinal (Brandon Stryganek)
8:45 p.m. - 5,000m Semifinal (Ian Barnett & Dylan Lafond)
9:45 p.m. - 4x400m Relay (Viney, Kendziera, McAsey, Zahn)
