Results
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.- The Illinois Fighting Illini track and field team hosted their first home outdoor meet in over two years this weekend. The Fighting Illini Big Ten Relays featured the entirety of the conference and allowed Illinois to showcase their recently updated home venue in Demirjian Park and the Gary Wieneke Track. Including a multitude of event champions, personal bests and additions to the Illinois record book, the squad was successful on Friday and Saturday. No team scores were kept for this event.
"It was a great feeling to host this meet, it was spectacular," Director of Track and Field Michael Turk commented at the conclusion of the weekend. "Everything went well. It was very gratifying to hear from all the other coaches how they felt about the facility in addition to seeing our athletes enjoy it and compete in it. This weekend hit all the marks that we were hoping for."
Day one began with a strong showing from the Illini pole vault squad. Carolyn Nye took second place in the women's pole vault invite, clearing 13-3 ¾ ft. This clearance is a personal best for Nye and moves her from fifth place in the Illini record book up to third place in the event. Squad-mate Alyssa Morello won the women's pole vault open competition, clearing 12-10 ft. This height was also a personal best for Nye and moved her from seventh place in Illinois history up to sixth place.
Sophomore Jessica McDowell highlighted the sprint events for the Illini, winning the women's 200 m with a time of 54.28, a personal best for the redshirt-freshman.
Sophomore Olivia Howell placed second in the women's 800 m with a time of 2:06.88, good enough for her own personal record as well as the eighth fastest time in the event in program history.
To conclude day one, the distance runners displayed an impressive performance on their new home track. Jon Davis won the men's 1500 m race with a time of 3:39.85. This mark not only improves Davis' personal best time, but also places him third in the Illinois record book after moving into fifth place two weeks ago at the Big Ten Invite #2. His race is also the best time in the conference, as well as the 16th fastest time nationally.
"Jon has really come a long way in his development as a person as much as an athlete," Coach Turk said about his star runner. "He is starting to understand things better and is showing tremendous leadership to the whole team. Jon is getting focused on the important things and in a good place mentally and I am so proud of how he has matured as a student-athlete. The talent has always been there and now as he builds a community as a leader it has been feeding him as an athlete and as a competitor. An amazing performance and a facility record."
Colin Yandel completed the day with a close win in the men's 5000 m race. He crossed the finish line in 14:23.43, narrowly edging out the competition and sending the team home for the night with a win. This is Yandel's personal best time in the 5000 m.
Manning Plater wasted no time getting day two started for the Illini, winning the men's hammer throw invite with a mark of 226-3 ft. (68.97 m). Plater currently leads the Big Ten in the event with his Illinois record throw of 229-1 ft. (69.82 m) from two weeks ago. He is in the eighth spot nationally.
"He would tell you he didn't execute as well as he has in the past," Turk added. "But overall to still throw the distances he had today shows that everything is there in front of him."
Illinois found great success in the relay portion of the meet in the afternoon on Saturday. The men's 4x800 m squad started with a quick event win in 7:24.51. Will O'Brien, Phil Hall and Aman Thornton ran the first three legs before Jon Davis exploded in the anchor leg to overtake the lead in the straightaway and give Illinois the win.
The women's 4x100 was the next victory for the Orange and Blue, taking the gold in 44.97. Amira Aduma, Nya Carr, Jessica McDowell and Felicia Phillips passed the baton for the Illini.
Illinois' 4x400 m relay on the men's side also took home first place with a time of 3:09.27, a season best. The relay consisted of Robert Williams, Thornton, Kashief King and Jason Thormo.
"It has been easy for us to talk about Plater, Howell and Davis throughout this season," Turk concluded, "but what I have seen that is so encouraging has been the overall depth and progression of our team as a whole. Our relays were great today, Bret Dannis was great with a big breakthrough race. There are so many signs of this team coming together and continuing to improve. I am really pleased with that."
Next Up
Next weekend the Illinois track and field team will travel to Minneapolis, Minn. to take part in the Minnesota Meet on Saturday, May 1. Details regarding this meet will be released in the coming week.
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.
