Meet Information and Schedule

Border Battle Meet Notes

Live Stats

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. –

MEET PREVIEW:

After winning the Big Ten Outdoor Championship and placing second at Big Ten Championships in cross-country, Mike Turk and company look to defend their title beginning with the Border Battle. The meet will begin with field events at 10 a.m. followed by track events at 1 p.m. Live Stats for the meet will be provided online at http://sidearmstats.com/illinois/track/

A LOOK AT THE COMPETITION:

Missouri finished last year's regular season schedule with a 13th-place finish at SEC Championships. The Iowa Hawkeyes are coming off a strong season in the Big Ten where they placed two places behind the Illini in East Lansing, placing third. All three teams will be competing in their first meet of the season on Saturday. 

NEXT WEEK:

The Illini will remain on campus as they host the Illini Classic on January 16-17. The weight throw will take place at 6 p.m. on January 16, while the rest of the meet will begin on January 17 at 11 a.m.

2015-16 Headlines

Coach Turk Inks Four to Class of 2016 

On November 20, the team welcomed four new faces into the Illini family with the 2016 recruiting class. Noah Adams (Blue Mound, Ill.) posted the 25th-best high jump mark in the nation last spring at IHSA State Championships, while Cooper Jazo (Lake Villa, Ill.). On the track, sprints coach Adrian Wheatley will add Josh Eiker (Galseburg, Ill.) to the group next fall. Eiker set a new IHSA state record in the 200m in 2015 with a mark of 21.20. Finally, distance coach Jake Stewart welcomes four-time defending IHSA 1A Cross-Country State Champion Jon Davis (Fithian, Ill.) to the team, adding on a group that placed second at Big Ten Championships.

North Central to honor former Illini Al Carius - 50 Years of Coaching

As part of North Central College's annual Track & Field Alumni Meet this Friday, former Illini cross-country and track Big Ten Champion Al Carius will be recognized for his 50th year of coaching. Prior to coaching Carius amassed five Big Ten championships, two in cross country and another three in the mile run on the track while at the University of Illinois. Upon graduating in 1964, Carius became a graduate assistant before becoming North Central's head coach in 1966. As North Central's head coach, Carius has led the school to 16 NCAA Division III National Championships (a NCAA all-division record) and have claimed 42 straight conference titles, the longest active streak in the nation.

Fighting Illini Indoor Schedule Announced

Men's Track and Field Head Coach Mike Turk has finalized the indoor slate for the defending Big Ten Champions. The Orange and Blue will play host to three home meets this winter, including the Border Battle to open the season on January 9.

After sweeping the inaugural Border Battle in Iowa City last season, the Fighting Illini will begin their season by looking to defend last season's title on their home turf. The January 9 meet with Iowa and Missouri will take place at the UI Armory. The following Saturday, the Illini will host their second meet in as many weeks with the Illini Classic.

After spending the first two weekends at home, Coach Turk will take his squad on the road for three straight weekends with trips to the Rod McCravy Memorial Invite (Jan. 22-23), Frank Sevigne Husker Invite (Feb. 5-6), and concluding with the Iowa State Cyclone Classic (Feb. 12-13). This will be the third consecutive season that the team has traveled to each of these competitions.

In their last weekend before the indoor postseason, the Illini split the team between the Alex Wilson Invite on the campus of Notre Dame and the annual Orange and Blue Open.

February 26 marks the beginning of indoor postseason play with the team traveling to Geneva, Ohio for Big Ten Championships. In Geneva, the Illini will look to qualify for NCAA Indoor Championships two weekends later in Birmingham, Alabama.