University of Illinois
Drake Relays
Illini Track & Field Heads to 109th Drake Relays
April 25, 2018 | Women's Track & Field, Men's Track & Field
Illini men have won four of first five Hy-Vee Cups
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois track and field concludes its 2018 regular season with the 109th running of the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. A three-day competition, the meet begins Thursday, April 26, and continues through Saturday, April 28. The Illini men's team has won four of the five Hy-Vee Cup titles since its inception in 2013.
| 109th Drake Relays | |
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| When | Thursday, April 26 - Saturday, April 28 |
| Where | Drake Stadium // Des Moines, Iowa |
| Meet Information | Schedule | Meet Info | Live Results | Heat Sheets |
| Watch | USA.TV | NBCSN (Sat.) | NBCSN Gold (Sat.) |
| Men's Team Information | Meet Notes | Performance List | Media Guide | Quick Facts |
| Women's Team Information | Meet Notes | Performance List | Media Guide | Quick Facts |
| Social Media |
@IlliniMTrack @IlliniWTrack |
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Meet Information
Watch Live On USATF.TV and NBC Sports Network
The 2018 edition of the Drake Relays will be streamed live on USATF.TV beginning Thursday at 4:30 p.m. central time and continuing through the meets conclusion on Saturday. Additionally, fans can watch the final two hours of the meet, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, on NBC Sports Network and online through NBC Sports Gold. A subscription is required for both USATF.TV and NBC Sports Gold.
Follow The Meet
Live results will be available throughout the meet at results.drakerelays.us. Additionally, fans and media can follow @IlliniMTrack and @IlliniWTrack on Twitter for updates throughout the meet. A full recap will be posted on FIGHTINGILLINI.com following the completion of the meet.
Illini History at the Drake Relays
The Orange and Blue carry a long standing history at Drake, as the Illini have had continued success at the meet that's resulted in 12 Drake Relay Hall of Fame inductions, eight athletes and four coaches, and eight Outstanding Performers winners. On the men's side, the Illini won the first Hy-Vee Cup titles since its creation in 2013, the trophy going to the team with most relay team points. On the women's side, the Orange and Blue have had four Outstanding Performers awards, including three in a row from 2001-2003. The 2001 Outstanding Performer award went to the Illini shuttle hurdle relay team that set the event world record with a time of 52.85.
Last Time Out
The Fighting Illini are coming off a trip to California where they contested events at three meets: Mt. SAC Relays, Bryan Clay Invite and Beach Invite. David Kendziera led all performances with a 110m hurdle victory over 2012 Olympic Champion, and world record holder, Aries Merritt while also placing runner-up in the 400m hurdles. Long jumper Jonathan Wells marked the third-best leap in school history, 25'10.25" (7.88m), while Devin Quinn timed 10.12 in the elite section of the 100m dash. On the women's side, the Illini received personal bests from Rebecca Craddock, sixth fastest 1500m in program history, Chi Nwoko (pole vault), Allison McGrath and Caroline Fix (5K) and Amira Aduma (400m hurdles).
Up Next
Illinois will have a week off from competition to begin preparation for the following week's Big Ten Outdoor Championships in Bloomington, Indiana, May 11-13.
Illini Notes
Nicole Choquette Receives Big Ten Medal of Honor
Fighting Illini graduate student Nicole Choquette received the 2018 Big Ten Medal of Honor at the Oskees awards, the Illinois all-athlete awards ceremony. Athletically, Choquette is a 2016 Big Ten Indoor 600m Champion and three-time Big Ten medalist. In the classroom, Choquette completed her Bachelor of Science in Earth, Society and Environmental Sustainability, graduating Summa cum laude with distinction in ESE. She's currently working on her Master of Science in plant biology.
Illini Men Enter Ranks for First time in 2018
The Illinois men's squad leaped 17 spots in the last USTFCCCA rankings, announced Monday afternoon, up to No. 17 in the county. The ranking is the highest since the 2016 season and leads the Big Ten conference heading into the final week of the regular season for the Orange and Blue. Conference foes Ohio State and Penn State are also ranked, checking in at No. 24 and No. 25.
22 Illini Performances Rank Among West Top-50
The Fighting Illini currently have 22 performances, 19 individuals and three relays that would currently qualify for NCAA West Prelims in Sacramento, California. Led by hurdler David Kendziera's West-leading hurdle times, the Illini have five performances that rank in the top-10 in the region: Kendziera (110H, 400H), Devin Quinn (100m, 200m) and Jonathan Wells (long jump). Well's 110m hurdle time of 13.97 ranks just outside the top-10 at No. 11. Sara McKeeman's No. 19 ranking in the pole vault leads the Illini women's west qualifying rankings.
Double Threat: Kendziera Once Again Atop Both Hurdle Events
Named a preseason All-American in both the 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles after earning First Team All-America honors at NCAA Championships last season, the Orange and Blue redshirt senior has staked claim to both the second-fastest 400m hurdle time (49.39) and third-fastest 110m hurdle time (13.46) in NCAA Division I this season and is undefeated against collegiate competition in his nine races to date. Both leading the Big Ten conference, Kendziera is looking to win his second intermediate hurdle conference title and his first in the high hurdles. At. Mt. SAC on April 21, Kendziera beat 2012 Olympic Champion Aries Merritt with a time of 13.47, and then set his season-best time in the 400m hurdles 45 minutes later.
Lightning Quick
Illinois junior sprinter Devin Quinn continues to put his name in the national conversation, as well as among the Big Ten's best, in the 100m and 200m open events while also anchoring the Illini's 4x100m relay squad. Looking to advance to his first NCAA Finals in Eugene, Oregon this season, Quinn ranks second nationally in the 100m (10.12) and seventh in the 200m (20.45). Leading the Big Ten in the 100m and ranking second in the 200m, Quinn's times also rank among the best in Illinois history with the 100m time ranking third and 200m second.
All Is Well(s): All-American Showing Versatility
A four-time All-American between the high jump and heptathlon, the Illini redshirt junior is again showing how versatile he is as he sits in the top-five in the Big Ten conference in three events. Primarily a jumper, Wells sits second in the conference with a leap of 25'10.25" (7.88m), 12th in the country and third-best on Illinois' all-time list, and is tied for fifth with a high jump of 7'0.5" (2.15m), a bar he's cleared twice this season. The fourth-year junior's biggest breakthrough this spring though has come in the hurdles, returning to the event for the first time in two seasons. Entering the season with a personal best of 14.51, Wells has dropped the time each time out, currently ranking fifth in the conference with a time of 13.97. Nationally, Wells ranks in the top-40 in each of the three events.
Freshman Craddock Shining in California
After twice claiming spots on Illinois all-time indoor list this past winter, doing so in both the 1500m and 3K, the Illini freshman from Brunswick, Ohio has once again etched her name in Illini outdoor history both coming in the state of California. Craddock first entered the outdoor ranks at the Stanford Invite on March 30 with a 16:30.90 personal record in the 5K that ranks eighth in program history. Craddock returned to the Golden State for the Bryan Clay Invite on April 20, timing a 4:21.04 1500m PR that ranks sixth all-time.
For complete coverage of Fighting Illini Track and Field, visit FightingIllini.com, follow the Illini on Twitter (@IlliniMTrack and @IlliniWTrack) and Instagram (@IlliniMTrack and @IlliniWTrack) and like Fighting Illini Men's Track and Field and Fighting Illini Women's Track on Facebook.
