University of Illinois
Big Ten Indoor Championships
Quinn, Viney, & Wells Score for @IlliniMTrack in Day 2
February 27, 2016 | Men's Track & Field
Quinn & Wells Lead #Illini with Two Top-8 Finishes
GENEVA, OHIO. – The Orange and Blue Track and Field team wrapped up the 2016 Indoor Big Ten Championships at the Spire Institute. In day two, freshman Devin Quinn led the team with seven points, totaled with top-eight finishes in both the 60m and 200m dashes. Joining him, Jonathan Wells placed in both the high jump and 60m hurdles, while senior Cam Viney finished fourth in the hurdles. As a team, the Illini placed 10th out of 13 teams.
"Its a tough spot for us," said Head Coach Mike Turk. "The team finish is very disappointing but I don't think we performed poorly. We just ran out of gas as a team. I think these guys competed hard and performed to the best of their ability. The fact is we only had 16 guys entered in open events this weekend and two more that only ran relays. We were just out manned. When you are short handed, it always seems like you didn't do enough, when in fact you did what you were capable of doing. Because of the circumstances, I don't believe the scores reflect who we are and what we did as a team but we will get better."
Event finals continued on the track with Devin Quinn competing in his first final of the day. After posting a 6.80 qualifying time yesterday in the 60m dash, the Illini freshman sprinter improved upon the time with a 6.77 mark to place fourth.
"Devin's performance was exception, especially for a freshman," said Turk. "I think he compares very favorably to where Zahn and Stryganek, two of our great champions from last years' team, were as freshman. Maybe even better. I know there will be more to come for Devin but this was a great start to his career in the Big Ten championships."
Later in the day, Quinn returned for the 200m final, a race he qualified in with a 21.20, time yesterday evening. In this afternoon's final, Quinn ran a 21.34 time in today's final to place seventh overall.
In the 60m hurdles, the Orange and Blue featured two hurdlers after Cam Viney (7.75) and Jonathan Wells (7.96) qualified in heat one yesterday afternoon. In the final today, both Illini weren't quite able to replicate their prelim performances. Nonetheless, Viney clocked a 7.82 time to earn fourth place, while Wells ran an 8.00 time to place in eighth.
"Jonathan and Cam ran well in the hurdles today," exclaimed Turk. "It was a tight tough race. We would have liked to finish a little higher but there just isn't much margin for error in that race, especially with the quality of competitors in there and being separates by thousandths of a second for scoring places. Cam was also great leading of he 4 x 400 relays."
In the high jump, Jonathan Wells entered the meet with a season-best mark of 7'21/4" (2.19m). However, Wells was tripped up at 7'01/2 (2.15m) in today's competition, finishing fourth overall. Also competing in the event was Parker Deloye, finishing with a mark of 6'8" (2.03m).
"Jonathan did not have his best day in the high jump," said Turk. "We took a strategy of trying to get as many points as possible and taking a shot at winning the high jump. We fell a little short but the effort and the plan was good. Bottom line is he would have had to set a new personal best to get the win. Sometimes you have to tip your hat to the competition. Everyone wants to continue to get better and I am 100% positive those two guys will continue to do so."
After setting a personal-record in the mile qualifying race yesterday, Garrett Lee returned for the event final. However, he was unable to duplicate his time from Friday, placing one spot shy of scoring points with a time of 4:11.12
In the 5,000m run, Billy Magnesen was the top Illini to finish the race, completing the run in a personal-best time of 14:22.1. Following Magnesen was Dylan Lafond in 14:25.1 and Dan Lathrop in 14:48.1.
The final event of the meet was the 4x400m relay. Cam Viney, Matt Burns, Konrad Eiring and Devin Quinn combined for a time of 3:13.42, but did not place.
Final Team Rankings:
- Nebraska – 116
- Wisconsin – 73
- Minnesota – 72
- ILLINOIS – 38
Top Illinois Results (Friday):
60m:
4. Devin Quinn, 6.77 – 5 points
60m Hurdles:
4. Cam Viney, 7.82 – 5 points
8. Jonathan Wells, 8.00 – 1 point
200m:
7. Devin Quinn, 21.34 – 2 points
High Jump:
4. Jonathan Wells, 6'11" (2.11m)
Top Illinois Results (Friday):
3,000m:
2. Dylan Lafond, 8:04. 59 – 8 points
Distance Medley Relay:
2. Markham, Viney, Eiring, Lee: 9:45. 91 – 8 points
Long Jump:
5. Jonathan Wells, 24'41/2" – 4 points
60m:
3. Devin Quinn – 6.80Q
10. Cole Henderson – 6.82
13. Mo Maat – 6.85
60m Hurdles:
2. Cam Viney – 7.75Q
6. Jonathan Wells – 7.96q
Mile:
7. Garret Lee – 4:07.75q
11. Liam Markham – 4:08.50
200m:
7.Quinn – 21.20q
17. Maat – 21. 62
Devin Quinn places 4th in the 60m Dash! #Illini pic.twitter.com/wyLee7f6Zy
— Illini Men's Track (@IlliniMTrack) February 27, 2016
Cam Viney & Jonathan Wells place in the 60m Hurdles, Viney in 4th & Wells in 8th! #Illini pic.twitter.com/df4Apva2Vy
— Illini Men's Track (@IlliniMTrack) February 27, 2016
