DES MOINES, Iowa - Former Fighting Illini Hurdler David Kendziera placed fifth in the 400m Hurdles Final on Saturday at the USATF Outdoor Championships. Kendziera clocked a season-best finish time of 48.69 in the event final.
This is the second consecutive year Kendziera has earned a medal at the U.S. Outdoor Championships. Kendziera placed fifth at the 2018 U.S. Outdoor Championships in the 400m Hurdles with a finish time of 49.22.
Kendziera opened on Thursday in the 400m Hurdles first round by finishing second in his heat to qualify for the semifinal with a finish time of 50.04. Kendziera finished second again in his semifinal heat, recording the fourth-fastest time overall in the semifinal field with a 49.21 finish. Kendziera set a new season-best today in the U.S. 400m Hurdles final with his 48.69 finish-time, surpassing his previous season-best time of 48.99 set at the Roma Diamond League Meet in Rome, Italy on June 6. With today's performance, Kendziera earns a bronze medal, given to third- through sixth-place finishers, and $2,000 in prize money.
Fighting Illini sprinter Devin Quinn competed today in the men's 200m First Round. He recorded a finish time of 21.10 to place third in Heat 5, but did not qualify for the semifinal round in the event.
U.S. Outdoor Championships conclude on Sunday. Four-time U.S. women's Discus champion and former Illini Gia Lewis-Smallwood (New York Athletic Club (NYAC) will compete in the Discus Final at 3:00 p.m. CT. Lewis-Smallwood placed fourth last year at U.S. Championships in the event. Illini redshirt senior and six-time All-American Jonathan Wells will contest the High Jump beginning at 4:35 p.m. CT. Wells earned his first U.S. Championships medal last year with his sixth-place High Jump finish at outdoor championships.
Illinois Results and Remaining Schedule (All Times CT)
Thursday, July 25
400m Hurdles: 7. David Kendziera- 50.04, Q
100m Dash: 26. Devin Quinn- 10.56
800m: 30. Joe McAsey- 1:53.26
Friday, July 26
400m Hurdles: 4. David Kendziera, 49.21, Q
Saturday, July 27
200m: 20. Devin Quinn, 21.10
400m Hurdles: David Kendziera, 48.69 (SB), Fifth Place
Sunday, July 28
3:00 p.m. – Women's Discus Final
4:35 p.m. – Men's High Jump Final
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