CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini will send their 400m sprinters and distance group to Lexington, Kentucky for the Rod McCravy Invite. Held Friday, January 20 through Saturday, January 21 at the Nutter Fieldhouse in Lexington, Kentucky, the Illini will be joined by some of the nation's top teams and athletes. Competition for the Illini will begin Saturday at 12:30 central time with the Bill Lee Mile.
Meet Notes
Last Year at the Rod McCravy Memorial
Dylan Lafond led all performances with his school record 3,000m time of 8:00.48 that won the event on the second day. On Friday evening, Alex Gold took home the 5,000m individual title with a time of 14:23.97, while Dan Lathrop (5K) and Devin Quinn (200m) both finished runner-up. Jonathan Wells competed in his first ever heptathlon across the two-day meet, placing runner-up with 4,944 points.
A Look at the Competition
The Orange and Blue will be tested by some of the nation's best as Baylor, Clemson, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Miami, Mississippi, Penn State, Purdue, Texas and USC are all scheduled to compete in the meet. USC (No. 6), Texas (No. 7) and Penn State (No. 20) all enter the meet ranked by USTFCCCA.
Events To Watch
3,000m: Coming off the program's first NCAA Cross Country Championships appearance, the distance group will have most of its top runners in the men's 3K on Saturday afternoon. Dylan Lafond and Jesse Reiser will be making their track season debuts on Saturday, with Lafond returning to the venue that saw him break the school's 3,000m record (8:00.48) last year. Reiser is coming off a freshman outdoor track season that saw him advance to NCAA Prelims in the 1500m. Like Reiser, Billy Magnesen advanced to NCAA West Prelims and is coming off of a 8:22.79 performance at the Illini Classic last week. Garrett Lee, Zack Smith, Sean Pengelly, Alex Gold and Joe Cowlin will also compete in the event.
800m: Luke Brahm and Trevor Kuehr lead the Illini in the event after Brahm made an impressive Illini debut by winning the 1,000m at the Border Battle two weeks ago, while Kuehr set a personal-best time in the 600m last weekend at the Illini Classic. Tony Zea and Garrett Lee are also entered in the event.
400m: A trio of Illini will compete in the 400m on Saturday afternoon, led by junior Matt Burns. Burns made his 400m season debut at the Border Battle two weeks ago along with freshman Jordan Cagigal, while Doug Wilson competed in the event last Saturday at the Illini Classic.
Next Up
The Fighting Illini will return to Iowa City, Iowa for the Iowa Invite on Saturday, January 28 at the UI Recreation Building. Two weeks ago, the Illini swept Iowa and Missouri at the third annual Border Battle meet on January 7 with nine event titles.
Illini Notes
Illini In the Rankings
Through two weeks of competition, four Illini rank among the nation's best in their events. In the 60m hurdles, David Kendziera's 7.80 time from the Border Battle ranks fifth in the nation and second in the Big Ten. Jonathan Wells sits 11th in the nation in the high jump after marking 7'1.75" (2.18m) at the Illini Classic, which is tops among Big Ten athletes. Michael Hyc (weight throw) and Josh Eiker (200m) rank 16th and 18th, respectively, in their events.
Last Time Out: Orange and Blue Win Illini Classic
Illinois won five event titles and scored 180 team points in route to winning the Illini Classic on Saturday, January 14. David Kendziera (60m hurdles), Devin Quinn (60m), Josh Eiker (200m), and Jonathan Wells (high jump) each won individual crowns, while the 4x400m relay team (Maat, Burns, Kendziera, Allen) added a fifth title. In the high jump, Wells attempted to break Gail Olson's 7'3 (2.21m) school high jump record, but fell shy of the mark.
New Year, New Video Board
During the month of December, the UI Armory received an upgrade with the addition of a video board, located on the west wall of the track. Measuring 14 1/2 feet tall and 26 feet wide, the board will enhance the Illini fan experience during home meets this season.
Illini Sweep Border Battle
Nine Fighting Illini won event titles at the third annual Border Battle, as the Orange and Blue swept the rivalry meet against Missouri (106-28) and Iowa (85-74) on Saturday afternoon. David Kendziera, Devin Quinn, Michael Hyc, Parker Deloye, Cole Henderson, Jacob LaRocca, Josh Eiker, Luke Brahm and Alex Gold each won events, while five freshmen made their Illini debut.
Illini Return Veteran Squad
Head Coach Mike Turk and staff return 26 letterwinners from last year's squad, including All-Americans David Kendziera, Jonathan Wells, Dylan Lafond, Cole Henderson, Kenneth Allen and Mo Maat. Kendziera earned four All-America honors as a sophomore in 2015 and qualified for Olympic Trials in the 400m hurdles last summer. Jonathan Wells earned First Team All-America honors in the high jump last winter for the first time in his career, while 2015 steeplechase All-American Dylan Lafond returns for his senior season after competing at Olympic Trials in July. Henderson, Allen and Maat return with experience on Illinois' All-American 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams two seasons ago.
Going the Distance
Distance coach Jake Stewart has restored the Illinois men's distance program to one of the best in the Big Ten and a competitor on the national stage. During the 2016 cross country season, Coach Stewart guided the Illini to the program's first NCAA Championships appearance in 30 years. On the track, Stewart has coached nine All-America performances, including Dylan Lafond who returns in the 3,000m steeplechase.
Illini Welcome 11 Freshmen
In addition to the talent returning to campus for the 2017 season, Coach Turk will welcome in 11 freshmen after the group impressed in their final season in high school. In total, the 11 new Illini combined for 17 IHSA state championships between cross country and track and field. At the 2016 IHSA state meet, the signees hauled in seven state titles, three runner-up finishes and tallied 107 team points.
Turk Tabs Talented Trio to Class of 2017
Fighting Illini Men's Track and Field Head Coach Mike Turk announced the signing of three student-athletes to the 2017 class on November 22. All hailing from the state of Illinois, the trio has combined for two individual IHSA state championships and six other top-eight finishes. Thrower Bill Matzek scored in the shot put and discus at 2016 IHSA Championships, while Curtis Gordon (pole vault) and Brayden Hamblen (cross country) both won state titles during their junior seasons.
Illini Host three Home Meet As Part of 2017 Slate
The Orange and Blue will compete at 16 meets between the indoor and outdoor seasons this year, including two home meets held at the UI Armory and one at the Illinois Track Stadium. Illini fan's first chance to see the team will be on Saturday, January 14 when the Orange and Blue host the Illini Classic at the UI Armory. A month later, the Illini will host the Orange and Blue Open on Saturday, February 20. The squad's final home meet will come at the Illinois Track Stadium on April 22 with the annual Illinois Twilight meet.
Illini Announces Reorganization of Track and Field/Cross Country Programs
Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced today that the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will reorganize the leadership structure of the men's and women's track and field and cross country programs in the summer of 2017. Upon completion of the 2017 outdoor track and field season, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field and men's and women's cross country will be led by a single coaching staff. Under the consolidated structure, current men's coach Mike Turk will be head coach and will lead both programs, along with five full-time assistant coaches.
