BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Senior sprinter Devin Quinn and the men's DMR group featuring junior Jesse Reiser, seniors Joe Haight and Denis Denis O'Callaghan and sophomore Jon Davis all earned Second-Team All-America honors Friday night at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama. Quinn placed 15th in the 200m semis with a time of 21.28. The men's distance medley relay squad finished the DMR final in 9:56.86 to place 12th.
"I think that if you follow college athletics you will see that after cross country, indoor track is the second hardest NCAA Championships to qualify for," said head coach Mike Turk. "Compare the participants and qualifiers compared to other sports. It's a heck of an achievement just to get here. You've got to be really great just to get here. We have big dreams, and when you don't meet them you're down. But then you remember it's a great accomplishment just to get here. It is gratifying for me to see them get here."
Quinn picked up the third All-America honor of his career and the first of his indoor career at 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships. The second-team All-America honors caps Quinn's indoor career. Quinn heads into his final outdoor campaign as one of the top sprinters in the country. At the 2018 Outdoor Championships, Quinn earned Second-Team All-America honors in 200m and as part of the Illini 4x100m relay team. He also was an Honorable Mention in the 100m at the Championships.
"Devin had a great indoor season," Turk said. "I think he'd be the first to tell you that he had never really excelled like this during an indoor season. Coming from Florida, he hasn't quite taken to the indoor season, the indoor tracks. But he made progress this year. He's going to have a tremendous outdoor season. He's in really good spirits. He sees what's left and how big an opportunity he has to finish out his career as an Illini. He has a chance to be one of the best sprinters we've ever had. He had a great indoor season, and it's a tremendous accomplishment just to get here."
Jesse Reiser, Joe Haight and Denis O'Callaghan each earned All-America honors for the first time as part of the NCAA qualifying Illini men's DMR squad. The Second-Team All-America honor is the third career All-America honor for Jon Davis, who previously earned All-America honors at the 2018 Indoor Championships and the 2017 outdoor championships.
"First and foremost, there were guys on the DMR that I just couldn't be happier they had the performances they had and the opportunity to run here at the national meet," Turk said. "Jesse Reiser being hurt all last year and through cross country season, what an amazing road to recovery. He had a great Big Ten Indoor meet, and stepped up as a leader this season. Joe Haight, getting to compete in his first indoor national meet, and Denny O'Callaghan getting to compete. Both of those guys are walk-ons and that makes it a great feeling. Denny transferred from Southern Illinois. He has far exceeded expectations, and is so competitive and has such great spirit. The DMR didn't perform so well tonight. I know we all don't feel good about it. But I take so much joy in that it's tremendous to see see those guys compete at this meet. Those two seniors will be walking out with All-America plaques and that is something they'll have for the rest of their lives."
The Illini will have a week off from competition before beginning the outdoor season. The outdoor season will begin on Saturday, March 23 at the Bill Cornell Spring Classic hosted by Southern Illinois-Carbondale.
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