Full Results

EUGENE, Ore. – Illinois hurdler David Kendziera won bronze in the 100m hurdles final and placed seventh in the 400m hurdles final, as the Fighting Illini men's track and field team concluded their season at NCAA Outdoor Championships. Along with Kendziera's two First Team All-America honors, Jonathan Wells (high jump) and Jon Davis (5,000m) earned Second Team All-American honors.

"I'm really proud of the guys who were out here and the whole team," Head Coach Mike Turk said following NCAA Championships. "The guys came out here and laid it out and competed extremely well. They represented the university with a lot of class, and it's a great group of guys to be around."

One of only two hurdlers in NCAA Division I to advance to the final of both the 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles, Kendziera is now a six-time All-American, and is the first Illini to reach the podium in two events since Andrew Riley's two national titles in the 100m dash and 110m hurdles in 2012.

"It's a really difficult double," Coach Turk said of Kendziera's two finals. "It's really challenging, and he did really well. I couldn't be more proud of David. It's amazing the journey he's had and the student-athlete he is. It's really amazing to watch him, and we've been blessed to have him in our program."

Kendziera's eight points placed the Illini 33^rd in the team standings. Florida won the title with 61.5 points.

David Kendziera earned the highest 110m hurdles finish of his career with a bronze medal in the 110m hurdles. Kendziera timed 13.59 out of lane five of the race, edging Big Ten champion Aaron Mallet (13.65) for third place. Grant Hallow of Florida won the event with a time of 13.49, while Alabama's Ruebin Walters placed runner-up with a time of 13.54. 

"The wind was in our face so I knew times weren't going to be as quick, but I just went out there and competed," said Kendziera of his 110m hurdles race. "In the final anything can happen. I made sure to keep my head up and let whatever happened happen. Overall, I was happy with the outcome."

Kendziera advanced to the final with the fastest qualifying time during Wednesday's semifinals, posting a 13.39 performance that ranks second in Illinois history.

30 minutes later, the Illini redshirt junior was back on the track for the 400m hurdles final. Racing out of lane one, Kendziera clocked 50.78 to take seventh place in the event. It's the second time Kendziera has reached the podium in the event after taking third in 2015. Eric Futch of Florida won the event with a time of 48.32. 

"Right from the get go, I was gassed," Kendziera said of his second race. "I just didn't have the power I needed to get through the race. I felt it going into the third hurdle, and didn't hit it the way I normally do. I just made sure to run through the finish and get the best time I could. I just used grit, tried to finish the race and give every ounce of energy I had left through the finish line."

Kendziera qualified for the intermediate hurdles final by clocking a 49.00 personal-record that ranks second on Illinois' all-time list. The personal-best time is a 0.56 improvement over his previous best that came at the 2015 NCAA Championships.

Two Illini earned Second Team All-America honors on Friday night, Jonathan Wells in the high jump and Jon Davis in the 5,000m.

Wells cleared 6'11.75" (2.13m) to finish tied for ninth place in the high jump final. After missing his first two attempts at the second bar of competition, Wells cleared 6'11.75" on his third attempt. Wells passed at the opening height of 6'9.75" (2.08m). The All-America finish is the fourth of his career and the first at NCAA Outdoor Championships.

"Wells has had a very challenging outdoor season with a lot of things going on, but he just keeps fighting and competing," Turk said of the Illini high jumper. "He's worked for everything he's gotten. He's a great representative of the people we have in our program. I'm so proud of him."

One of two freshmen in the 5,000m field, Davis placed 16^th in the final with a time of 14:45.28 to earn an All-America honor in his first collegiate season. Davis beat out fellow freshman Jacob Choge of Middle Tennessee who placed 21^st.

"The field is probably the most competitive I've ever been in," said the Illini freshman. "The original goal coming into the year was just to get to this meet. I'm happy to have the experience and finish as the top freshmen in the race. I think the experience will pay off down the road."

Up next, Fighting Illini athletes who meet the qualifying standard will compete at United States Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, California, June 22-25. Athletes have until June 18 to meet the qualifying standards with the official field announced following deadline. For a complete list of qualifying standards, click here. 

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.

Illinois NCAA Championships Results:

Finals:

3. David Kendziera, 110m hurdles, 13.59 – 6 points

7. David Kendziera, 400m hurdles, 50.78 – 2 points

T-9. Jonathan Wells, high jump, 6'11.75" (2.13m)

16. Jon Davis, 5,000m, 14:45.28

Semifinals:

1.David Kendziera, 110m hurdles, 13.39Q

5.David Kendziera, 400m hurdles, 49.00q

23.Dylan Lafond, 3,000m steeplechase, 9:17.29

Men's Team Scores:

1.Florida - 61.5

2.Texas A&M – 59.5

3.Virginia - 36

4.Arkansas - 33

5.Auburn - 24

6.Georiga – 22.5

7.LSU - 20

7.Tennessee - 20

9.Oregon – 19.5

10.Alabama - 19

T-33. Illinois – 8