Husker B1G Invite Results | B1G Invite #3 Results
PRAIRIE VIEW, Tex. – The Illinois track and field team had a successful weekend with the squad split between two meets on Friday and Saturday. The field athletes, sprinters and relays traveled to the Husker B1G Invite in Prairie View, Tex. while the distance runners returned to Bloomington, Ind. for the B1G Invite #3. No team scores were kept, but the Illini walked away with numerous event champions, personal bests and additions to the school record book.
Day one of the Husker B1G Invite began with a familiar sight for Illini fans: a Jonathan Wells event win. Wells won the men's long jump with a leap of 24-9.25 ft. (7.55 m). This is his third event win of the year thus far and he currently ranks second in the Big Ten in the long jump and first in the high jump.
Friday also resulted in a multitude of qualifications for final races: Bret Dannis in the 110 m hurdles, Nya Carr in the women's 100 m and Jason Shannon in the men's 100 m.
Day two at the Husker B1G Invite was just as successful, featuring more event champions and record breaking performances.
Jessica McDowell had a strong showing in the women's 400 m. McDowell placed second in today's event with a 53.71, also establishing herself in ninth place in the Illini record book in the event.
Wells returned on day two with the same tenacity as Friday, winning the high jump with a mark of 7-0.25 ft. (2.14 m). His career best jump is still 7-5 (2.26 m), set in 2018 at the Big Ten Championships.
Cooper Jazo got in on the field event success, tying for first place in the men's pole vault. His clearance of 17-0.25 ft. (5.19 m) set an outdoor personal best and was enough to earn a share of the event championship.
B1G Invite #3
Illinois only participated in six races in Bloomington, but had great success and many highlights. Senior Jon Davis got things started with a first-place finish in the men's 800 m with a time of 1:48.77, a personal best. Davis' time leads the Big Ten in the 800 m this season. Teammate Aman Thornton followed right behind with a time of 1:49.75, also a personal best for the redshirt-freshman.
Sophomore Olivia Howell kept her decorated 2021 year rolling with a win in the women's 1500 m. Her time of 4:18.61 was good for her own personal best as well as fourth place in the Illinois record book for the event. Howell currently ranks fourth in the conference with this time.
In the women's 5000 m, senior Rebecca Craddock took eighth place with a time of 16:18.16. This mark set a new personal record for Craddock, and moved her up in the Illinois record book from eighth place to sixth place.
Next Up
Next weekend the Illinois track and field team will host their first outdoor meet of the season at the new Demirjian Park in Champaign, Ill. Action will span from Friday, April 23 to Saturday, April 24.
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