Complete Rankings
CHAMPAIGN, IL– The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) ranked the Illinois men's cross country and track and field program best in the Big Ten and No. 14 overall through the end of the indoor season. The Illini placed 23rd at the 2016 NCAA Cross Country Championships and tied for 30th at last weekend's NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
According to organization's website, the USTFCCCA 'Program of the Year Award' is "awarded annually to the most outstanding cross country and track and programs in each of the NCAA's three divisions and for each gender. The award honors the institution that has achieved the most success in an academic year (spanning the cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field seasons) based on the institutions finish at the NCAA Championships."
The Orange and Blue are one of just three Big Ten schools ranked, one spot ahead of No. 15 Michigan State and six ahead of No. 20 Wisconsin.
To be eligible for the award, "teams must qualify for each of the NCAA Championships. Scoring is based on the team's finish at each NCAA Championship in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field with the lowest total score for all three championships combined determining the award recipient. Ties among schools split points for positions taken."
The Fighting Illini qualified for their first NCAA Cross Country Championships in 30 years this past fall, placing 23rd as a team under Head Coach Jake Stewart. The program carried the success into the indoor track and field season, as David Kendziera in the 60m hurdles and Jonathan Wells in the heptathlon. The two Illini went on to earn First Team All-America honors as the team finished tied for 30th overall.
Head Coach Mike Turk took over the program in 2012 after serving as the interim head coach in 2010-11 and assistant coach from 2006-2009. Assistant coach Adrian Wheatley is in his sixth season with the program, coaching the sprints and hurdles events, while Jake Stewart is in his fifth year leading the distance group. In 2015, the Illini won the Big Ten Outdoor Championships and tied for 10th at NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The Illini begin their 2017 outdoor season this weekend at the UNLV Invite in Las Vegas, Nevada. Held at the Myron Patridge Stadium, the meet begins with multi-events on March 16 and 17, with the rest of competition scheduled for Saturday, March 18.
For complete coverage of Fighting Illini Men's Track and Field, visit FightingIllini.com, follow the Illini on Twitter (@IlliniMTrack) and Instagram (@IlliniMTrack) and like Fighting Illini Men's Track and Field on Facebook.
