Illini Men’s Track & Field Third After Day One of B1G Championships

Illini score in six events on first day of competition

Men's Track & Field February 24, 2017

Illini Men’s Track & Field Third After Day One of B1G Championships

Illini score in six events on first day of competition

GENEVA, Ohio –The Fighting Illini Men's Track and Field team scored six times on day one of Big Ten Indoor Championships, tallying 19.5 team points, and sit in third place at the end of day one. Jesse Reiser (4th/3,000m), Dylan Lafond (5^th/3,000m), Jonathan Wells (5^th/Long Jump), Jacob LaRocca (6^th/Pole Vault), Michael Hyc (6^th/ Shot Put) and the distance medley relay team (8^th) each scored, while Devin Quinn (60m/200m) and David Kendziera (60m hurdles) advanced to event finals tomorrow.

"What stuck out the most to me today was that we kept fighting," said Head Coach Mike Turk following day one of the meet. "There were some ups and downs, but we took a few shots, came out swinging and fought hard. We showed we have a resilient group of guys that keep putting forth good effort. I think it's a really good sign when you see someone from each event group stepping up and leading, both by their actions and their performance."

Pole vaulter Jacob LaRocca got the Orange and Blue on the scoreboard when the Illini redshirt freshman tied for sixth with a personal-best height of 17'0.25" (5.19m). The performance improves upon LaRocca's 16'9.25" (5.11m) previous personal-record set last weekend at the Orange and Blue Open.

"I think the biggest thing is that he didn't vault last year, being out with injury," said Turk of LaRocca. "He's obviously very talented and has come a long ways from back in the fall when he was afraid to run hard after the injuries he's had. He had to mentally get over that hurdle of getting on a pole and jumping again. He's in a position where it's his first season in two years, and he's just really starting to get things going. We've seen good things out of him all season and I think he'll keep improving."

Also placing in field events for the Illini, junior Michael Hyc added three points to the team score with a heave of 59'4.25" (18.09m) in the shot put, while Jonathan Wells scored four points in the long jump with a 24'4.25" (7.42m) leap to place fifth.

The four points by the Illini long jumper marks the second straight season that Wells has placed fifth at the meet. However, Coach Turk sees an improvement in his technique that he believes has him primed for a breakthrough in the near future.

"Going into the last jump, [Wells] was in ninth place," Turk explained. "We've made big changes to Jonathan's approach and the way he runs. I think those changes are starting to take hold. He's really close to putting out some really big performances. There's so much more in there and he's starting to see that. His next breakthrough is going to be a big one."

On the track, Illinois' distance group combined for 10 points between the 3,000m and distance medley relay.

In the 3,000m, Jesse Reiser and Dylan Lafond finished back-to-back, as Reiser timed 8:15.90 to take fourth and Lafond finished fifth with a time of 8:17.44.

"I thought the guys in the 3,000m were really outstanding," said Turk of Reiser and Lafond. "I think both of those guys feel a lot better about themselves right now, especially Dylan. I think this was will be a big stepping-stone going into, not just the 5,000m tomorrow, but the outdoor season as well. Jesse Reiser stepped up big today and I was proud of the effort he put out there."

Illinois' distance medley relay of Luke Brahm, Kenneth Allen, Tony Zea and Garrett Lee rounded out the day by combining to place eighth with a time of 9:47.46.

In addition to placing in six events, the Illini also advanced to finals in three events on the track: Devin Quinn in the 60m and 200m and David Kendziera in the 60m hurdles.

Quinn clocked the fourth-fastest 60m dash in Illinois history early in the afternoon, and then came back to set the third fastest 200m time on the Illini all-time list. In the 60m, the Illini sophomore timed 6.73 to win heat two with third-fastest time in qualifying. The Illini sprinter returned later in the afternoon to set a personal-best time of 21.01 in the 200m, placing runner-up in the heat and fifth overall in prelims.

"Devin is maturing as an athlete and competitor," said Turk of Quinn. "He looks like he's taking the bull by the horns, and is ready to go out there and get after it each time. It's a great example for the rest of our sprinters and I think they're following along."

Also advancing to a final tomorrow was Kendziera in the 60m hurdles. The redshirt junior clocked 7.84 to cruise to victory in heat two with the second fastest time in qualifying.

Although Illinois fell shy of qualifying a sprinter for the 400m final, each of the four Illini set personal-best performances in the event. Senior Kenneth Allen and Joe Haight led the quartet with times of 47.12 and 47.82, respectively, in heat six. Freshmen Doug Wilson (48.78) and Jordan Cagigal (49.57) also added in personal-best performances in earlier heats.

Up next, the Illini conclude competition at Big Ten Indoor Championships on Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. central time with All-American Jonathan Wells in the high jump. The Illini will also contest the weight throw, triple jump, 5,000m, 60m final, 200m final, 60m hurdle final and the 4x400m relay. Day two of the meet will be streamed live in its entirety on BTN Plus and on the BTN2Go app.

Team Scores:

1.Indiana – 42

2.Wisconsin – 24.50

3.Illinois – 19.5

4.Nebraska – 17

5.Michgian State – 16

6.Iowa -15

7.Minnesota – 14

Penn State – 14

9.Ohio State – 13

10.Purdue – 11

11.Michigan - 9