University of Illinois
Mt. SAC Invitational
@IlliniMTrack Ready for Trio of Meets in California
April 14, 2016 | Men's Track & Field
#Illini Compete at Mt. SAC, Bryan Clay & Beach Invite
CHAMPAIGN, ILL. – Mike Turk and the Fighting Illini return to California for the second time in three weeks for a split-squad trip. The team will divide the roster between the Mt. SAC Relays, the Bryan Clay Invite, and the Beach Invite. The Illini will compete in three events on Thursday, one at each site, before spending Friday at the Bryan Clay Invite and Saturday at the Beach Invite.
| Mt. SAC, Bryan Clay, & Beach Invites | |
|---|---|
| When | April 14-16 // Thursday: 5pm; Friday: 11am; Saturday: 11am |
| Where | Cerritos, California // Azusa, California // Long Beach, California |
| Live Results Links | Mt. SAC | Bryan Clay | Beach Invite |
| 2015-16 Information | Illinois Record Book | Illinois Meet Notes |
Competitions to Watch
1500m: After strong performances from the group two weeks ago at Stanford, the Illini will have four of their best distance runners in this event on Friday night at the Bryan Clay Invite. Ian Barnett returns after cracking the top-10 in the 10,000m two weeks ago, while fellow seniors Bryce Basting and Liam Markham will look to improve upon their times from the event two weeks ago. Freshman Jesse Reiser rounds out the field, competing in the event for the first time this season.
4x100m Relay: Joe Haight, Cole Henderson, Keveion Akins and Mo Maat won the 4x100m relay last weekend at Indiana State. The group, featuring all underclassmen, will compete twice this weekend, first on Friday at the Bryan Clay Invite and again on Saturday at Mt. SAC.
Pole Vault: Three Illini vaulters will travel to California this weekend and get multiple reps in the event as they compete twice this weekend. Seniors Mitch Mammoser and Blaze Galardy will be joined by freshman Eddie Smoliak as they compete Thursday at the Beach Invite and again on Friday afternoon at Bryan Clay. Mammoser missed the indoor season with an injury before returning to competition last weekend.
800m: The Illini will feature a trio of runners in the event on Friday afternoon at Bryan Clay, led by senior All-American Joe McAsey. McAsey, part of the 4x400m relay team that won the event at the Big Ten Outdoor meet and placed in the top-eight at NCAAs, is returning from an injury that sidelined him during the indoor season. Joining him will be Gibson Invite 800m winner Trevor Keuhr and true freshman Konrad Eiring.
Next Up
The Orange & Blue host their first home outdoor meet of the season next weekend with the Illini Twilight meet on April 23.
Illini Notes
Young Illini Shine at Gibson Invite
the Orange & Blue were led by underclassmen, totaling four of the team's five individual titles. Sophomores Mo Maat (100m), Cole Henderson (200m) and Trevor Kuehr (800m) each chipped in an event title for the Illini, while freshman Isaiah Michl (400m hurdles) added the fourth crown. In addition to the individual titles, the Illini used two sophomores and two freshmen to win the 4x100m relay competition.
Viney & Barnett Top Performances at Stanford Invite
Cam Viney and Ian Barnett combined for three individual titles to open the season at the Stanford Invite. Viney took titles in both hurdles events, the 110m and 400m. Although neither times for Viney were personal-bests, he won each event with ease. In the 10,000m, Barnett set the seventh-best time in school history with a 29:10.83 time.
Barnett in Elite Company
With Barnett's 29:10.83 time at Stanford, the senior is now on five top-10 lists, tied for the current best among past and present Illini. He currently ranks in the top-10 in the indoor 3K and 5K and the outdoor 1,500m, 5K and 10K. The other Illini to have the same honor: Dorian Green, Babatunde Ridley, Sherman Armstrong and Jannis Toepfer.
Fighting Illini Ranked 9th to Start Outdoor Season
Coming off their best NCAA finish since 1988 and a Big Ten Championship, Mike Turk's squad enters the outdoor season slated at number nine in the USTFCCCA preseason rankings. The ranking is tops among all Big Ten schools, just above No. 13 Ohio State and No. 19 Penn State.
Wells, Kendziera, Lafond & Lee to Red-shirt This Spring
With the rash of injuries during the indoor season and long-term planning for the defending champs, Coach Turk will red-shirt four Illini during the outdoor season. Although he stayed healthy throughout the indoor slate, 2016 indoor high jump All-American Jonathan Wells will use the spring to focus on multi events as he seeks to increase his versatility in the second half of his Illini career.
Jonathan Wells Earns First Team All-America Honors
Sophomore high jumper Jonathan Wells posted his second highest mark of the indoor season at NCAA Championships with a clearance of 7'1.75" (2.18m) to place eighth in the field. The First Team All-America honor is the first of Wells career after he competed at indoor championships last season, but finished 13th.
Quinn, Viney, & Wells Score for Illini on Day 2 of B1G Championships
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.
Lafond & DMR Score ON Day 1 of B1G Championships
After four Illini qualified for five finals spots tomorrow, the Orange and Blue surged in the day's final events to finish the opening day third in the team score. Dylan Lafond and the distance medley relay team each scored for the Illini, a momentum they hope to carry over into day two of the meet.
Lafond Rewrites Indoor Record Book
After setting a school record and earning All-America honors during cross-country season, Lafond has continued his success during the indoor track season. During the past three meets, the Manchester, New Hampshire native set the Illinois school record for the 3,000m (8:00.48) at the Rod McCravy meet, and then followed it up by breaking the Illini 5,000m record at the Iowa State Classic (13:46.72).
Quinn Shines Early
Freshman Devin Quinn has already made an impact on the track with impressive times in both the 60m and the 200m dashes. Like teammate Mo Maat, Quinn entered the program's top-10 list with an Illini debut time of 6.76 in the 60m. Quinn won his first career victory in the 200m at the Illini Classic, and then followed that up with a runner-up finish at the Rod McCravy Memorial Meet on January 22. Quinn concluded his indoor season with two top-eight finishes at Big Ten Championships in the 60m and 200m dashes. In the 200m, Quinn moved into seventh on the Illini top-10 list with a 21.20 time in his qualifying heat.
Cam Viney Times Third-Best 60m Hurdles Mark in Illinois History
The Fighting Illini got Cam Viney back from an early season injury at the Rod McCravy meet three weeks ago. Last weekend, Viney marked the third-best 60m hurdle time in Illinois history, clocking a 7.78 time in the Orange & Blue event final. The time beat out his personal-record time (7.82) set earlier this season at the Husker Invite (2/6).
Lafond Sets School Record at McCravy Invite
The highlight of the two-day event came in the 3,000m run when All-American Dylan Lafond broke the Illinois school record with a time of 8:00.48. In addition to Lafond's performance, Alex Gold and Dan Lathrop continued the distance success with a 1-2 finish in the 5,000m on Friday evening. In the multi-events, Jonathan Wells got his first taste of the heptathlon, placing second in the event. On the track, freshman Devin Quinn continued his impressive start to the season with a runner-up finish in the 200m, while Cam Viney made his season debut with a third-place finish in the 60m hurdles.
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 to a group that placed second at Big Ten Championships.
