Full Results (PDF)

IOWA CITY, Iowa – 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.

"We've got work to do; we've got some things to improve and clean up," said Head Coach Mike Turk. "We were really good today. I think the thing I was most pleased with was the way we competed. I think we, for the most part, competed really well all day, across the board. We had some guys really step up with their performances. Overall, I was really pleased with the way we did things today."

A four-time All-American in 2015, Kendziera made his first appearance of 2017 after missing the 2016 season due to injury. In his return, the Illini redshirt junior clocked 7.80 in the 60m hurdles, edging out 2016 Big Ten champion Aaron Mallet's 7.82 time. The 7.80 time by Kendziera set a new personal-record, improving upon his 7.86 mark from 2015 Big Ten Indoor Championships.

"I think today will be a big confidence booster for [Kendziera] moving forward," Turk said. "It was the first time he had run fast on the hurdles since his injury. Especially since they didn't run a prelim, so it was a cold run first time out; I thought it was outstanding. He was probably a little bit behind going over the last hurdle or two, but he really kept his composure and pushed through."

Making his Fighting Illini debut, Josh Eiker impressed in his first collegiate meet with a 21.38 performance in the 200m dash to win the event. The 21.38 mark broke the previous meet record of 21.49, set by Iowa's Justin Austin on January 8, 2011. Eiker's time falls just short of cracking Illinois' all-time list in the event, 0.02 seconds behind Gakologelwang Masheto's 21.36 back in 2009.

"He showed why he was one of the top high school 200m runners in the nation last year," Turk said of the Galesburg, Illinois native. "For his first collegiate meet, I think it was a really dynamic performance and he showed that there's a lot that he's capable of doing. He's got a ways to go before he gets to the level that he wants to be at, but he showed a glimpse of that."

Michael Hyc marked the third-best weight throw in Illinois history on Friday afternoon, heaving a personal-best 63'9.75" (19.45m) on his third attempt. Hyc's throw surpassed his previous career-best by 3.75 inches. Matsen Dziedzic finished runner-up in the event with a mark of 61'0.75" (18.61m).

Hyc turned in another personal-record performance on Saturday, marking 56'4.5" (17.18m) in the shot put to place third.

"Mike had a great meet," Turk said of the junior. " I think he's an example of someone who has really worked hard and come a long way over a long period of time. It's been a steady, constant, almost linear improvement. He keeps working hard and getting better each time out. He's coming into his time and the work he's put in over the last two years is paying off for him."

Elsewhere in field events, the Orange and Blue received event victories from Parker Deloye in the high jump (6'7.5"), Cole Henderson in the long jump (22'6.25") and Jacob LaRocca in the pole vault (16'6.75"). For LaRocca, his clearance marked a career-best performance.

"I thought our jump crew was really good," said Turk. "We showed some shades of big things to come in the high jump, but I was especially pleased with our pole vaulters. LaRocca showed a glimpse of what could be down the road if he continues to improve. Cooper Jazo jumped really well as well, tying his lifetime personal-record (15'7") from high school."

Earlier in the day, Devin Quinn won his first event of the season, timing 6.80 in the 60m dash to best 2016 Big Ten Champion Vinny Saucer's 6.84 runner-up time. Quinn also finished runner-up in the 200m with a time of 21.86.

"I really saw, and what we've been seeing during training, a different level of maturity," explained Turk. "He's not a freshman anymore, and I think that's why he performed as well as he did in the 60m, beating the defending the Big Ten champion."

Alex Gold and Luke Brahm both earned distance event titles, as Gold (8:28.96) won the 3,000m run and Brahm (2:26.54) was victorious in the 1,000m race in his Illini debut.

"It might go unnoticed, but Luke Brahm really gave us a big boost in the middle of the meet in the 1,000m," said Turk on the Princeton transfer. "He was really the class of that event and ran an outstanding, smart race. He's very experienced, very heady and will prove to be someone that we're really lucky to have on our team."

The Illini wrapped up their season-opening meet with a second-place finish from Joe Haight, Kenneth Allen, Matthew Burns and David Kendziera in the 4x400m relay.

A handful of Illini freshmen made their debut in the Orange and Blue today. Along with Eiker, Jordan Cagigal, Doug Wilson, Noah Adams and Cooper Jazo each competed in their first collegiate meet today. Adams placed runner-up in the high jump, while Jazo took third in the pole vault.

The Fighting Illini will return home to host the Illini Classic on Saturday, January 14 at the UI Armory. The meet will begin at 10 a.m. central time.

Event Winners

Michael Hyc – Weight Throw, 63'9.75" (19.45m)

Parker Deloye – High Jump, 6'7.5" (2.02m)

Cole Henderson – Long jump, 22'6.25" (6.86m)

Jacob LaRocca – Pole Vault, 16'6.75" (5.05m)  

David Kendziera – 60m hurdles, 7.80

Devin Quinn – 60m dash, 6.80

Josh Eiker – 200m, 21.38

Alex Gold - 3,000m, 8:28.96

Luke Brahm – 1,000m, 2:26.54

Team Scores

Illinois 106.00, Missouri 28.00
Illinois 85.00, Iowa 74.00
Iowa 107.00, Missouri 27.00