M City Classic Results | Billy Hayes Invite Results
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.- The Illinois Fighting Illini track and field team split up this weekend, with the throwers competing at the Billy Hayes Invite hosted by Indiana and the rest of the squad at the M City Classic hosted by Minnesota. No team scores were kept at either of the meets. The Illini picked up numerous event wins and personal best marks, as well as a few notable additions to the program record book.
The highlight of Friday in Minneapolis was sophomore Olivia Howell winning the women's 1500 m. Howell finished in a time of 4:18.67, narrowly missing her personal best set three weeks ago at the Big Ten Invite #3 in Bloomington Ind. That time currently places her fifth in the Big Ten Conference.
Senior Amira Aduma contributed two personal records of her own in the long jump and the women's 200 m on Friday night. She leapt 19-9 ft. (6.02 m) for a PR and third place at the meet, as well as running a 23.76 for another PR and a second place finish in the 200 m.
To conclude day one, senior Allison McGrath placed fourth in the women's 5000 m with a time of 16:23.87. This time is a personal best for McGrath, as well as the seventh fastest time in the event in program history.
Events picked back up on Saturday with the Illini taking first place in the men's 4x100 m relay. Their time of 40.08 is the best time on the season for the squad. Bret Dannis, Jason Shannon, Jason Thormo and Declan Rustay passed the baton to earn the gold.
Dannis continued his decorated day with an event win in the men's 110 m hurdles. His time of 14.12 was his third fastest of the outdoor season as he works towards a scoring performance at the outdoor conference championships in two weeks.
Redshirt-freshman Jessica McDowell added to her impressive 2020-21 with another win in the women's 400 m dash. Her time of 53.37 is a personal best, as well as the second fastest time in the Big Ten Conference. This performance also moves her up to seventh place in the Illinois record book for the event.
Carolyn Nye took third place in the women's pole vault with a clearance of 13-8 ¼ ft. (4.17 m), setting a new personal record. Last weekend at the Fighting Illini Big Ten Relays Nye moved into third place in the Illinois record book, and this week she moves up one more spot to second place in program history.
Samuel Raheem won his first career event title with a first place finish in the triple jump. His leap of 47-3 ¾ ft. (14.42 m) was also good for a new personal best.
Billy Hayes Invite – Illini Throwers
Manning Plater, the Illinois all-time hammer throw record holder, won the event in Bloomington with a toss of 227-3 ft. (69.26 m). Plater currently sits atop the Big Ten in the event and will look to claim the title in mid-May at Demirjian Park.
Tyler Sudduth had a day of his own, placing second in the men's shot put with a throw of 59-6 ft. (18.14 m). This mark is a new personal best for Sudduth, as well as the seventh best throw in Illinois program history.
Next Up
The Illinois track and field team will have a weekend off in preparation for hosting the B1G Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 14-16 at Demirjian Park in Champaign, Ill.
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