CHAMPAIGN, Ill.  – Fighting Illini Track & Field travel to Iowa City to participate in the Larry Wieczorek Invitational on Friday and Saturday, hosted by Iowa. Competition will begin for the Illini at 12 p.m. on Friday with the women's weight throw. Running events will begin at 5:20 p.m. with the women's 600 m. Friday's final event will be the Men's 200 m premier, set to start at 7:25 p.m.
Competition will pick back up on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. with the women's pole vault, and will conclude with the men's 4x400 m relay premier at 5:30 p.m.
Meet Information
Follow the Action
Fans can follow live results throughout the Marry Wieczorek Invitational at https://results.wayzatatiming.com/meets/6961/events ,as well as by following @IlliniTrackXC on Twitter. The event will also be streamed on BTN+. A full recap of the meet will be posted on fightingillini.com following the conclusion of the meet.
Know The FieldÂ
The Illini will be competing against the women and men of Wisconsin for the second week in a row, as well as Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Last week, the Hawkeyes, Gophers, and Cornhuskers all competed at the Nebraska Open in Lincoln, Neb. hosted by Nebraska. No team scores were recorded at this meet. Illinois and Wisconsin faced off in the Badger Icebreaker in Madison, no team scores were kept.
ILLINI TO WATCH
Amira Aduma
60m : Prelims Saturday 2:10 p.m. , Finals Saturday 3:38 p.m
4x400m Relay : Saturday 4:25 p.m.
Long Jump: Friday 3:40 p.m.
2021 Indoor Season: Did not compete at Badger Icebreaker Meet
2020 Outdoor Season: Canceled due to COVID-19
Will Rezny
Weight Throw: Friday 1:00 p.m.
Shot Put: Friday 3:00 p.m.
2021 Indoor Season: Won the shot put at the Badger Icebreaker with a throw of 56'8.75"
2020 Outdoor Season: Canceled due to COVID-19.
Bret Dannis
60 m hurdles: Prelims Saturday 1:45 p.m. , Finals Saturday 3:15 p.m
60 m: Prelims Saturday 2:20 p.m. , Finals Saturday 3:43 p.m
2021 Indoor Season: Placed first in the 60m hurdles at the Badger Icebreaker with a time of 8.03
2020 Outdoor Season: Canceled due to COVID-19.
Kristin Slaughter
Pole Vault: Saturday 12:00 p.m.
2021 Indoor Season: Placed 2nd in the pole vault at the Badger Icebreaker with a height of 3.50 m
2020 Outdoor Season: Canceled due to COVID-19.
Nya Carr
200 m Premier: Friday 6:25 p.m.
60 m: Prelims Saturday 2:10 p.m. , Finals Saturday 3:38 p.m
2021 Indoor Season: Placed 1st in the long jump and 5th in the 60 m to open the year at the Badger Icebreaker
2020 Outdoor Season: Canceled due to COVID-19.
Declan Rustay
60 m: Prelims Saturday 2:20 p.m. , Finals Saturday 3:43 p.m
200 m Premier: Friday 6:40 p.m.
4 x 400 m: Saturday 4:30 p.m.
2021 Indoor Season: Placed 2nd at the Badger Icebreaker in the 60 m with a time of 6.88
2020 Outdoor Season: Canceled due to COVID-19.
ILLINI NOTES
MANNING PLATER NAMED B1G FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK (1/18)
Plater was named the Field Athlete of the Week the B1G Conference announced on Wednesday, Jan. 20. He was recognized for his performance in the Badger Icebreaker, moving him into second place in school history in the weight throw. This is Plater's first career Athlete of the Week Award, and the Illini's first of the Field variation since Davis Fraker in 2011. Jon Davis was the last to win a weekly B1G honor as a track athlete twice in 2019.
ILLINI ECSTATIC TO BE BACK IN ACTION
Head Coach Mike Turk said he felt as if his team "won the Olympics" after competing in the Badger Icebreaker Meet, the team's first competition in nearly eleven months following the postponements due to COVID-19. He also called the team's performance "inspiring", as they won eight events as well as added names to the Illinois all-time record book throughout the day.
HOWELL SETS SCHOOL RECORD IN WOMEN'S 1000M
In the Badger Icebreaker at Wisconsin on January 16, sophomore Olivia Howell ran a 2:46.52 in the Women's 1000 m, breaking the Illinois school record in the event. The previous best was 2:49.93, held by Laura Simmering set in 1989. Senior Mikeala Lucki also moved into fifth place all time in this event with a time of 2:51.17 in the same race.
PLATER IMPRESSES IN DEBUT
Michigan Graduate-Transfer Manning Plater had an impressive showing in his first action as an Illini, winning the weight throw at the Badger Icebreaker. His throw of 73'6" is a personal best and ranks second all time for the Illini, four inches behind Davis Fracker's 73'10" in 2015. Plater's throw would have won him the Indoor B1G Championship last year by nearly a foot. Brian Keyes also moved into 10th place in school history with his throw of 59'7 1/4".
Next Up
The Illini come back to Champaign next week for their sole home meet. The Illini B1G Multis will take place on Saturday, January 30 at the UI Armory. A schedule and details will be announced throughout the week.
Â
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.
