Final Results
MADISON, Wis. - Fighting Illini track & field won eight events in their first competition of the year as they traveled to the Badger Icebreaker hosted by Wisconsin on Saturday. This meet marked the end of a nearly eleven month pause in competition for the team due to COVID-19.
"I found our performance today to be inspiring," said director of track & field/cross country Mike Turk. "It was just a little non-scored dual meet but I feel like we won the Olympics. It was so much fun to compete again. I can't stress how proud I am of the way we have responded to the long layoff. We were competitive, enthusiastic and we are going home celebrating the opportunity to compete and a whole bunch of great performances."
Illinois started strong in the field events, securing first place finishes in the women's long jump, women's high jump, men's weight throw, men's long jump, and men's shot put.
Michigan graduate transfer Manning Plater made an immediate impact in his initial meet for the Illini, placing first in the men's weight throw with a toss of 73-6 feet. This throw moved Plater into second place in Illinois history in this event, behind only Davis Fraker's throw of 73-10 in 2015. This was Plater's personal best throw, passing his 72-1 foot toss at last year's B1G Championship in Geneva, Ohio.
"I believed Manning was well prepared for the season to begin but his performance surpassed my expectations," Turk said. "He stayed calm, very focused, within himself and then he let it fly. I think all 4 of his legal attempts were over 73 feet which is outstanding. From that 1st throw, I could sense the energy of the whole group rise. Every thrower in the weight throw had a lifetime best today and the guys duplicated that in the shot put with huge breakout performances by Will Rezny and Tyler Suddeth to go 1-2."
Freshman Nick Drayden won the men's long jump in his first action as an Illini with a jump of 22-2 ¼ feet, good for the first event title of his career. He also gained competition experience in the triple jump as the only competitor in the men's division.
Junior Nya Carr got the Illini off to a hot start with a first-place finish in the women's long jump with a score of 19-6 feet. This mark is good for Carr's personal best, previously set at 18-3 ¾ feet.
Junior Lucy Lux-Rulon grabbed first place for the Illini in the women's high jump by clearing a height of 5-5 feet.
Redshirt-sophomore WIll Renzy grabbed first place in the shot put with a throw of 56-8 3/4 feet. Sophomore Tyler Suddeth and senior Vince Shields placed second and third respectively for the Illini, sweeping the podium in the event.
Illinois won three of the running events on Saturday, including the women's 1000 m, the women's 3000 m, and the men's 60 m hurdles.
Sophomore Olivia Howell placed first in the women's 1000 m with a time of 2:46.52. This was Howell's first time competing in this race collegiately, and in this race she broke the Illinois school record in the 1000 m by nearly three seconds.
"I believe Olivia shattered the 1000m school record today," Turk added about the sophomore. "The last race Olivia ran was the Big Ten Indoor Mile final and she looks like she is picking up right where she left off. Again, aggressive from the start, went to the front, held off a challenge at about 800m and then just kept widening the gap."
Redshirt-junior Rebecca Craddock dominated the 3000 m, placing first overall with a time of 9:37.37. Sophomore Ayah Aldahah and senior Allison McGrath followed behind Craddock, placing second and third as the Illini swept the podium. Illinois and Wisconsin were joined by the Northwestern Wildcats women's team in this race as well.
"It's unique because we also have a Cross Country Championship in two weeks so for most of our ranked women's cross squad, this was their only tune up before the championships," Coach Turk noted. "I think they showed they are ready to go. Rebecca Craddock ran up front and was in command the entire race, rock solid and then came Aladadah, who closed well the last 100m, and McGrath, for a 1-2-3 Illini finish."
Junior Bret Dannis won both the qualifying round and final round of the men's 60 m hurdles with a time of 8.03 seconds.
Next-Up
The Illini travel to B1G foe Iowa next week for the Larry Wieczorek Invitational. The two-day meet will take place on Friday, January 22, and Saturday, January 23.
Illinois Event Champions
Women's High Jump: Lucy Lux-Rulon, 5-5 feet
Women's Long Jump: Nya Carr, 19-6 feet
Men's Weight Throw\: Manning Plater , 73-6 feet
Men's Long Jump: Nick Drayden, 22-2 1/4 feet
Men's Shot Put: Will Renzy, 56-8 3/4 feet
Women's 3000 m: Rebecca Craddock , 9:37.37
Women's 1000m: Olivia Howell , 2:46.52
Men's 60 m Hurdles: Bret Dannis , 8.03
For complete coverage of Fighting Track & Field, visit FightingIllini.com, follow the Illini on Twitter (@IlliniTrackXC) and Instagram (illinitrackxc) and like Fighting Illini Track and Field & Cross Country on Facebook.
