Day 2 Results

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois track and field teams added to their strong start with a solid day two of competition at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships on Saturday. With competition lasting most of the day at Demirjian Park, the Illini secured numerous qualifications, additions to the program record book and event champions. Illinois' men finish the day in a tie for sixth place with 30 points while the women sit in 12^th place with five points.

The highlight of Saturday was All-American Jonathan Wells taking the gold in the men's high jump and long jump, and earning a total of 20 points for the squad. Wells cleared 7-2.5 ft. (2.20 m) in an intense vertical jump-off, and after his competitor was unable to match, he elected to forego his final jumps in order to prepare for the long jump. This is Wells' second career Big Ten Outdoor high jump championship, with the first coming in the spring of 2018. It is his third overall Big Ten high jump win, as he was also victorious at the indoor championships in 2017 in Geneva, Ohio. His personal best clearance still sits atop the Illinois record book at 7-5 ft. (2.26 m).

His extra preparation proved necessary, as Wells later won the men's long jump with a leap of 25-2.5 ft. (7.68 m). This is his first career Big Ten long jump title, as he becomes only the sixth athlete in Bconference history to win both the high jump and the long jump at the same championships event, and the first since 1985.

Jessica Franklin also added to the Illini women's team point total with an eighth place finish in the heptathlon. Her 5160 points are the seventh most in a heptathlon in school history, and were enough to earn one point for the squad.

Manning Plater, coming off of a third place finish yesterday in the hammer throw, placed eighth in the discus with a throw of 173-3 ft. (52.80 m). This finish was good for one point for the men.

Despite some persistent rain in the later afternoon, Illinois athletes qualified for final events across the board on Saturday. Jason Thormo got things started with a sixth place finish in the men's 400 m preliminaries with a time of 47.19. Jessica McDowell then matched with a qualification of her own in the women's 400 m, placing third overall in a blistering 53.60.

Amira Aduma finished sixth in 11.73 and Nya Carr finished seventh in 11.78 in the women's 100 m, as both Illini qualified for the final. Bret Dannis finished his men's 110 m hurdles race in 14.01 to secure a lane in the championship tomorrow as well.

In the men's 800 m, Big Ten Indoor Freshman of the Year Aman Thornton set a new personal record with a 1:48.68. This race was good enough for third overall in the preliminaries and qualified Thornton for the final on Sunday.

With 6656 points in the decathlon, Alex Babbington moved into eighth place in Illinois program history. He finished in 13^th place for the meet, while Aiden Ouimet finished right behind in 14^th place with 6236 total points.

To wrap up the track events for the day, Ayah Aldadah had a record performance in the women's 3000 m steeplechase. Her time of 10:18.09 set a new personal best, as well as moved her into fourth place in program history in the event. Aldadah previously sat in seventh place.

Notes:

• This is the first time the University of Illinois has hosted the Big Ten Outdoor Track Championships since 2008.
• Jonathan Wells is the sixth individual to win the high jump and the long jump at the same Big Ten Championships in 120 years of Big Ten Track and Field meets.
• Wells is the first high jump/long jump champion since 1985
• Wells is the second high jump/long jump champion in the last 92 years

Illini Scorers Thus Far

Jonathan Wells – High jump – 1^st place – 10 points

Jonathan Wells – Long jump – 1^st place – 10 points

Manning Plater – Hammer throw – 3^rd place – 6 points

Manning Plater – Discus – 8^th place – 1 point

Shrey Chowdhary – Javelin – 6^th place – 3 points

Allison McGrath – 10,000 m – 7^th place – 2 points

Ayah Aldadah – 3000 m steeplechase – 7^th place – 2 points

Jessica Franklin – Heptathlon – 8^th place – 1 point

Next Up

Action will pick back up tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at Demirjian Park. Sunday will be filled with final races and crucial for the final championship standings.

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