DES MOINES, Iowa - Fighting Illini redshirt senior Jonathan Wells placed third in the High Jump final on the last day of competition at the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships. The place-finish is a new personal-best for Wells at the U.S. Championships meet. He earned a bronze medal with a height of 7'4.25" (2.24 meters).
"It was a obviously a fantastic performance," said Illinois head track & field coach Mike Turk. "I was extremely impressed that he was clear with no misses up through 2.24 meters. It was amazing because he was so calm, so focused. It's really a sign of maturity."
Wells cleared his first four attempts at 2.11, 2.16, 2.21, and 2.24 meters without a miss. With today's third-place performance, he moves up three spots from his sixth place finish at the 2018 U.S. Outdoor Championships.
"He's been through a lot, and you can't help but want to root for him," Turk said. "Today was a day he shined."
Former Illini Gia Lewis-Smallwood also earned a medal today with her fifth-place finish in the Discus Final, recording a throw of 201'9" (61.51 meters).
"At the age of 40 really a terrific performance for Gia," Turk said. "She shows that she's right in there with the best in the country, poised to make a run at another Olympic team next year. She's an amazing competitor."
2019 U.S. Outdoor Championships closes with three former or current Illinois student-athletes having earned medals in their respective events. Wells had the highest finish with his third-place performance. Lewis-Smallwood placed fifth, and former Illini Hurdler David Kendziera also placed fifth in the 400m Hurdles final on Saturday at U.S. Outdoor Championships. Kendziera clocked a season-best finish time of 48.69 in the event final.
Illinois Results
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, Fifth Place
Sunday, July 28
Women's Discus: Gia Lewis-Smallwood- 61.51 meters, Fifth Place
Men's High Jump: Jonathan Wells- 2.24 meters, Third Place
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