CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Over the last decade, the constant for the Illinois men's track and field team has been its national-level hurdle success. Since 2009, the Orange and Blue have advanced a hurdler to NCAA Finals nine times out of 10 seasons, including each of the last five. The 16 qualifying performances over that span rank third nationally.
However, the success goes beyond just reaching the meet. Of the 16 performances, half of them (8) have earned First Team All-American honors with five of earning medals, both of which ranks second only to Florida for most in the last decade. Starting the string of success, former Illini and Olympian Andrew Riley never placed lower than fifth in the 110m hurdles, winning the event in 2010 and 2012 with a runner-up finish in 2011.
During Riley's reign in the high hurdles, 400m hurdler Cody Wisslead added back-to-back appearances in 2010 and 2011, taking eighth on his second trip.
After the lone gap year in the run in 2013, former Illini Cam Viney and current Illini redshirt senior
David Kendziera have carried the Orange and Blue for the last five seasons with 10 appearances combined.
A seven-time All-American, Kendziera will conclude his historic Illini hurdling career with his third trip, and second straight, to the NCAA meet. A rarity in college track, Kendziera has mastered both the high hurdles and intermediates, earning First Team All-American honors in both disciplines last season including a bronze medal in the 110m hurdles.
Just one of two hurdlers last season to reach Eugene, Oregon in both events, Kendziera will be one of four competing in both hurdles competitions next week. Kendziera enters as the top seed in the 110m hurdles with a time of 13.40 from NCAA West prelims, while sitting in 13th in the 400m hurdles with a time of 50.30 from Sacramento.
Wednesday's NCAA Men's Semifinals will be broadcast live on ESPN2. The 110m hurdles semifinal is scheduled for 7:32 p.m. central time, followed by the 400m hurdles semifinal at 8:30 p.m.
Illinois Hurdlers at NCAA Finals Since 2009
| Year |
Athlete |
Event |
Place |
| 2009 |
Andrew Riley |
110m Hurdles |
5th |
| 2010 |
Andrew Riley |
110m Hurdles |
1st |
|
Cody Wisslead |
400m Hurdles |
10th |
| 2011 |
Andrew Riley |
110m Hurdles |
2nd |
|
Cody Wisslead |
400m Hurdles |
8th |
| 2012 |
Andrew Riley |
110m Hurdles |
1st |
| 2014 |
Cam Viney |
400m Hurdles |
22nd |
| 2015 |
Cam Viney |
110m Hurdles |
11th |
|
David Kendziera |
110m Hurdles |
12th |
|
David Kendziera |
400m Hurdles |
3rd |
|
Cam Viney |
400m Hurdles |
11th |
| 2016 |
Cam Viney |
400m Hurdles |
10th |
| 2017 |
David Kendziera |
110m Hurdles |
3rd |
|
David Kendziera |
400m Hurdles |
7th |
| 2018 |
David Kendziera |
110m Hurdles |
|
|
David Kendziera |
400m Hurdles |
|
NCAA Finals Hurdles Qualifying Performances Since 2009
| Team |
Appearances |
| Nebraska |
23 |
| Florida |
17 |
| Illinois |
16 |
| Texas Tech |
15 |
| USC |
15 |
| Iowa |
15 |
NCAA Hurdles Medalists Since 2009
| Team |
Medalists |
| Florida |
6 |
| Illinois |
5 |
| USC |
4 |
| Texas A&M |
3 |
| LSU |
3 |
| South Carolina |
3 |
| Kansas |
3 |
| Stanford |
3 |
| Washington State |
3 |
| Oregon |
3 |
NCAA 110m Hurdles Points Scored Since 2009
| Team |
Points |
| Florida |
52 |
| Illinois |
38 |
| Texas A&M |
32 |
| Oregon |
32 |
| LSU |
29 |
| USC |
22 |
