EUGENE, Ore. - The Fighting Illini men's track and field team opened the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Wednesday and it was a strong showing for the Orange and Blue. Of Illinois' nine competitors, five Illini qualified for Friday's finals. DJ Zahn (400m), David Kendziera (110m hurdles), Dylan Lafond (steeplechase), the 400m relay and the 1,600m relay will all be back in action in two days.
The afternoon began with the 4x100m relay team of Mo Maat, Brandon Stryganek, Cole Henderson and Zahn earning Illinois' first bid into Friday's final. The Orange and Blue quartet finished second in heat three of the semifinals to earn an automatic bid to the final. The group's time of 39.39 was a season-best performance and gives them the eighth seed in the final.
Lafond was the second finals qualifier for the Illini on Saturday, punching his ticket in the 3,000m steeplechase. Sitting among the top five throughout the entirety of the race, Lafond used a strong finish down the homestretch to take second in the opening heat and earn one of the automatic bids to the final. Lafond's time of 8:41.11 was the second-fastest time in the semifinals and moves him into fourth on Illinois' all-time performance list.
Zahn added an appearance in the 400m final to his previously scheduled trip in the 4x100m relay. Similar to Lafond, Zahn used a big surge down the homestretch to finish second in his heat and earn a spot in Friday's final. Zahn's time of 45.87 has him seeded seventh for the event final.
Kendziera grabbed Illinois' fourth spot in the finals, claiming second in the third heat of the 400m hurdles. Kendziera clocked a new personal-best time of 49.64, moving him into second on Illinois' all-time list. He will enter Friday's final as the third-seeded runner.
In the day's final event, the 4x400m relay, Illinois punched its final ticket to Friday's final. The team of Cam Viney, Kendziera, Joe McAsey and Zahn finished second in its heat to automatically qualify for the event final. The quartet finished in a time of 3:05.63 giving them the seventh seed for the final.
Kendziera and Viney also both competed in the 110m hurdles but did not qualify for the final. Viney finished 10th (13.64), missing the final by two spots, and Kendziera was 12th (13.67), giving both second-team All-America honors. Viney also missed qualifying for the final in the 400m hurdles, placing 11th (50.31) to earn his second-team All-America status for the second time on the day.
In his first career appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Davis Fraker finished in 11th place in the hammer throw, missing out on qualifying for the final by two places. Fraker, Illinois' lone competitor in the field events, began the day with a throw of 64.04m (210' 1") and only improved from there. His second throw measured 65.17m (213' 9") and his final throw came in at 65.30m (214' 3"). For his performance, Fraker earned second-team All-America honors with one of the furthest non-scoring throws in NCAA Championships history. Fraker finishes his career with the Orange and Blue as the school record holder in the hammer throw (68.41m - 224' 5") and the weight throw (22.50m - 73' 10").
With five finals qualifiers, Illinois is in line to have five top-eight finishers for the first time since 1988. Additionally, all eight of Illinois' track competitors are set up to finish on the podium.
The Fighting Illini will be back in action on Friday, June 12 for the event finals. A list of results and a schedule of upcoming events can be found below. Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for the latest men's track and field updates.
Illini Results
Wednesday, June 10
Q/q = qualified for finals
400m (Semifinals)
7. DJ Zahn - 45.87 Q
110m Hurdles (Semifinals)
10. Cam Viney - 13.64
12. David Kendziera - 13.67
400m Hurdles (Semifinals)
T-3. David Kendziera - 49.64 Q
11. Cam Viney - 50.31
4x100m Relay (Semifinals)
8. Mo Maat, Brandon Stryganek, Cole Henderson, DJ Zahn - 39.39 Q
4x400m Relay (Semifinals)
7. Cam Viney, David Kendziera, Joe McAsey, DJ Zahn - 3:05.63 Q
3,000m Steeplechase (Semifinals)
2. Dylan Lafond - 8:41.11 Q
Hammer (Final)
11. Davis Fraker - 65.30m (214' 3")
Upcoming Schedule
Friday, June 12 (all times Pacific Standard Time)
4:35 p.m. - 4x100m Relay Final (Maat, Stryganek, Henderson, Zahn)
4:57 p.m. - 3,000m Steeplechase Final (Lafond)
5:35 p.m. - 400m Final - (Zahn)
6:00 p.m. - 400m Hurdles Final (Kendziera)
6:50 p.m. - 4x400m Relay Final - (Viney, Kendziera, McAsey, Zahn)
