University of Illinois
Iowa State Cyclone Classic
Illini Men’s Track Travels to Ames for Iowa State Classic
February 9, 2017 | Men's Track & Field
Illini compete at final road meet of indoor regular season
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini Men's Track and Field concludes their indoor road slate with a trip to Ames, Iowa for the Iowa State Classic, February 10-11. With four other Big Ten schools in the field, as well as three Big 12 programs, the Illini will get their final large meet tune-up before Big Ten Championships in two weeks.
| Iowa State Classic | |
|---|---|
| When | Friday, February 10 - Saturday, February 11 |
| Where | Lied Recreation Athletic Center // Ames, IA |
| Live Links | Live Results | Live Stream ($) |
| Meet Information | Meet Home | Meet Schedule | Map |
| Team Information | Meet Notes | Performance Lists | Media Guide | Quick Facts |
| Social Media | @IlliniMTrack  | #Illini | @Illinimtrack  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
Meet Notes
Watch the Meet Live
This weekend's Iowa State Classic will be broadcast live on FloTrack through their FloPro subscription. Additionally, live results will be provided at www.pttiming.com/events/87929845. Fans can also follow @IlliniMTrack and #ISUClassic17 on Twitter for updates throughout the meet.
Last Year at the Iowa State Classic
Dylan Lafond set the 5,000m school record (13:46.72), as the Illini recorded seven top-10 performances. Cam Viney led the Illini with a victory in the 60m hurdles, while Jonathan Wells (high jump), Devin Quinn (60m/200m), Mo Maat (60m) and Cole Henderson (60m) also finished in the top-five.
A Look at the Competition
Illinois will be joined by Big Ten foes Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska, while also competing against Big 12 schools Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State. The Jayhawks enter the meet ranked No. 16 in the latest USTFCCCA top-25.
Events To Watch
60m Hurdles: The elite competitors in the field will look familiar, as Big Ten hurdlers from Iowa and Nebraska will again test David Kendziera. Kendziera and Iowa's Aaron Mallet, ranked sixth in the nation with a time of 7.75, will compete on the same straight away for the third time this season. The two hurdlers have split their two previous encounters, Kendziera winning at the Border Battle and Mallet taking top honors at the Black & Gold Premier meet. Mallet's teammate Chris Douglas (7.87) and Nebraska's Andrew Neal (7.93) will also factor into the race this weekend.
4x400m Relay: An event that continues to evolve for Coach Turk's squad, the Illini have dropped their time in each of the last two meets, currently ranking 27th in NCAA Division I with a time of 3:10.49 set last week at Nebraska. With Kenneth Allen, David Kendziera and Joe Haight staking claims to three of the four legs, the Illini have multiple options for the fourth spot as Big Ten Championships approach. Devin Quinn, Matt Burns, and Mo Maat all have ran a leg this season, while Turk has stated that Josh Eiker and Doug Wilson are deserving of a look as well. With Iowa (6th), Kansas(13th), Nebraska (15th) and Iowa State (17th) all ranking in the top-20 in the event, the Illini will get another chance to measure up prior to the conference meet at the end of the month.
Throws: After setting personal-best marks in the weight throw during his firs three meets, Michael Hyc heaved 60'3" (18.36m) in the shot put at the Husker Invite a week ago to place runner-up and move into fifth place on Illinois' all-time list. Ranking 28th in the country so far this season, Hyc will compete against six other top-30 marks in Ames. Nicolai Ceban (Kansas) leads the group with the third-best time in NCAA Divsion I, a 65'1.5" (19.85m) throw at the Jayhawk Classic, while Avery Meyers (Iowa), Brett Nikolas Huffman (Kentucky), Neely (Kansas State) and Reno Tuufuli (Iowa) sit ahead of Hyc.
3K: The Illini school record-holder Dylan Lafond will run his second 3,000m race of the season after debuting in the event three weeks ago at Rod McCravy. After clocking 8:10.23 at Kentucky, Lafond competed in the mile at the Terrier Invite last weekend, timing 4:02.13 to move into Illinois' indoor list. The 2016 Big Ten runner-up in the 3K will look to get another race under his belt before the conference meet in two weeks.
Next Up
Head Coach Mike Turk's squad will return home to host the Orange and Blue Open on Saturday, February 18 as the Illini conclude the indoor regular season. Indoor Big Ten Championships will take place the following Friday and Saturday, February 24-25, at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
Illini Notes
Illini In the Rankings
Following a strong outing at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invite, the Illini have six performances that rank among the top-30 in NCAA Division I, including two in the top-10. All-Americans David Kendziera leads the Illini with his 7.77 time in the 60m hurdles that ranks eight, followed by Jonathan Wells's school record heptathlon score (5,685) that sits in 10th place on the NCAA list. Wells' high jump mark of 7'1.75" (2.18m) is 15th in the nation, while Michael Hyc (28th/shot put), Dylan Lafond (26th/mile), and the 4x400m relay team (27th) also sit in the top-30.
Illini Athletes Among Big Ten's Best
Among Big Ten competitors, 12 Illini performances currently ranked in the top-10 so far this season: Devin Quinn (60m/200m), Josh Eiker (200m), Kenneth Allen (400m), Dylan Lafond (mile), David Kendziera (60m Hurdles), Jonathan Wells (high jump/heptathlon), Jacob LaRocca (pole vault), Michael Hyc (weight throw/shot put). Wells' 7'1.75" (2.18m) height at the Illini Classic currently leads the Big Ten in the high jump.
Jonathan Wells Breaks Heptathlon School Record
After redshirting last spring to focus on the multievents, Jonathan Wells broke the Illinois heptathlon school record in his first meet of the season. The Illini junior, a redshirt sophomore for the 2017 outdoor season, scored 5,685 points to pass Steve Monte's 5,577 points scored four years ago in 2013. Already a two-time All-American in the high jump, Wells brings versatility to Coach Turk's squad.
Regionally Ranked
The Fighting Illini are tabbed fourth in the Midwest region currently, according to the USTFCCCA weekly rankings. The Orange and Blue rank ahead of No. 5 Minnesota, while trailing Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska.
Hyc Hyc Baby
Thrower Michael Hyc has started his junior season with bang, setting personal-best marks in the weight throw in each of his first three meets and set a new shot put lifetime best at the Husker Invite. In the shot put, Hyc launched a throw of 60'3" (18.36m) last weekend, moving him into fifth-place on Illinois' all-time list and 28th in the country. Hyc's 66'5" (20.24m) throw at the Black & Gold Premier (1/27) improved upon his third-best mark in Illinois history. Hyc currently ranks eighth in the Big Ten in both events.
Of Historical Significance
Seven current Fighting Illini athletes currently hold spots on Illinois' all-time top-10 lists, led by 3,000m (8:00.48) and 5,000m (13:46.72) recorder holder Dylan Lafond and heptathlon record-holder Jonathan Wells (5,685). In sprints, Devin Quinn sits tied for seventh in the 200m and tied for eighth with Mo Maat in the 60m, while freshman Josh Eiker entered the 200m ranks with a 21.34 performance at the Black & Gold meet. David Kendziera (4th) and Jonathan Wells (T-9th) both rank in the top-10 of the 60m hurdles, while Wells sits runner-up in the high jump, just a half-inch behind Gail Olson's school record. Rounding out the list is Michael Hyc, third in the weight throw and fifth in the shot put, and Matsen Dziedzic, fourth in the weight throw.
