University of Illinois
Bryan Clay Invite
Jon Davis, Jesse Resier Set Top-10 Performances in Illinois Men’s Track History
April 14, 2017 | Men's Track & Field
Illini set six personal-record performances in California
Results: Mt. SAC | Bryan Clay | Beach
TORRANCE, Calif. – Jon Davis set the second fastest 5,000m (13:49.55) and Jesse Reiser clocked the sixth fastest 1500m (3:42.37) in Illini history, as the Illinois men's track and field team set six more personal-best performances in California on Friday. Competing across three meets – Mt. SAC Relays, Bryan Clay Invite and Beach Invite – the Orange and Blue have tallied ten personal-best performances on the weekend.
"This is turning out to be a very productive trip for us," Head Coach Mike Turk said. "I think we're really getting a lot of performances. We have a bunch of personal-best performances already. Even in the 200m, we didn't get personal-best performances but those were both really good performances. When you make a big investment on a trip like this, you want to see people come out here and take advantage of it. That's the cornerstone of our program."
Following a four personal records to start the weekend by the distance crew on Thursday night, distance coach Jake Stewart's group turned in two more personal-bests on Friday, both ranking among the top-10 in Illinois history.
Freshman Jon Davis made his collegiate debut in the 5,000m run in style by clocking 13:49.55 in the 5,000m elite race at the Mt. SAC Relays. Davis' time is the second fastest in Illinois history, trailing only Illini legend Craig Virgin's 13:35.02 set back in 1975.
Also entering an Illinois top-10 list on Friday, sophomore Jesse Reiser clocked the sixth fastest 1500m race in Illinois history at the Bryan Clay Invite on Friday. A 2016 NCAA Prelims qualifier in the event, Reiser's time of 3:42.37 places him just shy of former Illini Liam Markham's fifth-best mark of 3:42.33 in 2014.
Making his season debut in the steeplechase, All-American Dylan Lafond finished the race in 8:42.55 to take third in the Mt. SAC elite section.
On Thursday, four Illini distance runners set personal-best times between the Mt. SAC Relays and Bryan Clay Invite. Sean Pengelly set a personal-record time of 29:38.62 in the 10,000m race at Mt. SAC, while Dan Lathrop (14:12.29), Zach Dale (14:25.04) and Zack Smith (14:34.67) each clocked lifetime bests in the 5,000m at Bryan Clay.
"Two weeks ago at Eastern Illinois those guys ran really well, and that was the catalyst for making the decision to bring them out [to California]. And, they didn't disappoint. I think they stepped up really well and all made improvements. I think Zach Dale is getting really close to putting out another breakthrough performance. He had a personal-best time and he sees it."
After back-to-back weeks of marking 195 feet in the hammer throw, junior Matsen Dziedzic took it up a notch on Friday, marking 196'1" (59.77m) to set a new personal-best performance in the event. Joining Dziedzic with a lifetime best throw was classmate Michael Hyc, as the junior marked 182'7" (55.66m).
The Illini added two more personal-record performances in the 400m and 800m, as sophomore Konrad Eiring timed 1:50.41 in the 800m, while freshman Doug Wilson finished the 400m race in 48.47. For Eiring, it was his third 800m competition of the season after sitting out the indoor season.
"He's coming off a rough indoor season where he was medically unable to perform," Turk said of Eiring. "It's great to have him back out there and back to where he was preseason."
Although not personal-bests, the Illinois sprints group again showed well on Friday, as Kenneth Allen set a season-best time in the 400m and Josh Eiker and Devin Quinn contend with elite competition in the 200m.
With a personal-best time of 47.12 at last year's Big Ten Championships, Allen nearly matched that performance today at Mt. SAC with a time of 47.16 to win his heat and place second overall.
Also racing at Mt. SAC, freshman Josh Eiker clocked the eighth fastest time in the 54-sprinter field, winning his section with a time of 21.06. Quinn followed in 14th with a time of 21.21.
The Orange and Blue will complete their three-day, three-meet California trip with events at both Mt. SAC and the Beach Invite on Saturday. The action begins at 11 a.m. central time at the Beach Invite with pole vault and shot put competitions. Live stream of Mt. SAC track events will be available throughout the day with a subscription to FloTrack.
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