Full Results

LINCOLN, Neb. - Illinois track & field closed out competition at the two-day Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational on Saturday. Redshirt senior Jonathan Wells led the way for the Illini with event titles in the men's Long Jump and the High Jump. 

"We're improving across the board," said director of track & field/cross country Mike Turk. "This was one of our better meets at Nebraska in recent years. There are plenty of things we can improve on, but the focus, intensity and competitive progressions are gaining attention. We're a team with a mentality of 'any lane on the track.' Opportunities are being maximized." 

Wells captured his second High Jump and first Long Jump title of the season this weekend. In Saturday's High Jump, Wells cleared 7-0 1/4 (2.14 meters) to take first. In Friday's Long Jump, Wells jumped a season-best 25-1 3/4 (7.66 meters) to win the event. 

"Jonathan was a little off in the High Jump but he made an adjustment and it was good enough today," Turk said. "His Long Jump is coming along well."

Redshirt junior Chisom Nwoko had top-10 finishes in the 400m and 200m. In the 400m on Friday, Nwoko timed 54.88 to place second. In Saturday's 200m Dash, Nwoko clocked a personal-best finish time of 24.40 to place 10th. 

"Chi didn't have her best race in the 400," Turk said. "The effort was their but she made a small mistake in her race distribution that gave her trouble. Her 200 was much better."

On the men's side in the 400m and 200m, freshman Jason Thormo had a pair of top-20 finishes. In the men's 400m, Thormo clocked a collegiate-best time of 47.98 to place fourth overall. In the 200m Dash on Saturday, he timed 21.83 to place 18th. Sophomore Declan Rustay placed 10th overall in the 200m, timing 21.67, and junior Jason Shannon finished 13th with a time of 21.78.

"Jason Thormo had a great weekend," Turk said. "He had a breakthrough race in the 400 yesterday and came back with another indoor best in the 200. Then he ran an outstanding lead off leg in the 4 x 4 that set up our best performance of the year in that event." 

Thormo and Rustay (anchor leg) were joined by sophomore Jaden Jackson and freshman Robert Williams on that 4x400m relay. The group timed a season-best finish of 3:13.56 to place second at the meet. 

"I'm very excited about the future of both our men and women's 4 x 4," Turk said. The men dropped significant time this weekend and on the women's side our relay pool is growing. Depth has been an issue for us in the past so we feel we are starting to reach that objective."  

 In women's middle distance and distance events, the Illini saw a number of top-five finishes. In the women's 600m junior Mikaela Lucki timed 1:36.58 to place fourth, while senior Vanessa Flaherty recorded a time of 1:37.69 to finish fifth. 

In the 800m, the Illini saw a pair of top-five performances. Freshman Olivia Howell clocked a finish time of 2:09.40 to place second, while fellow freshman Tracy Towns timed 2:09.55 to place third. Also in the 800m, redshirt sophomore Rebecca Craddock finished ninth with a personal-best time of 2:11.78, and junior Madeline Bruce timed a personal-best 2:19.78 to finish 20th. 

In the women's 3K, senior Grace Rogers turned in a top-five finish. Rogers clocked a new PR finish time of 9:44.64 to place third.

"We've made great progress in the middle distance races," Turk said. "A lot of bright spots. Howell and Towns are showing high level abilities, especially for freshmen, obviously. But look deeper and see Bruce and Craddock with personal-bests and heat wins. It was great racing."

Illinois also saw a fifth-place finishes in the women's and men's Pole Vault. In Friday night's women's Pole Vault, senior Carolyn Nye cleared 13-0 3/4 (3.98 meters). In the men's Pole Vault on Saturday, redshirt junior Cooper Jazo recorded a mark of  16-7 1/4 (5.06 meters). 

Up next, the Illini head to Nashville for the Music City Invitational hosted by Vanderbilt. The two-day meet begins on Friday, February 14 at 4 p.m. CT. Competition will resume on Saturday, February 15 at 11 a.m. CT. 

"We're excited to run at Vandy next week," Turk said. It will be our first time on a 300 meter track, and we'll get to see some great competition and some different teams. It will be a lot of fun."

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