Source: FightingIllini.com
Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 12:15:00 AM EST
Published: Sunday, May 31, 2009 12:17:57 AM EST
Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 12:15:00 AM EST
Published: Sunday, May 31, 2009 12:17:57 AM EST
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Illinois men's track and field team qualified three individuals for the NCAA Outdoor Championships this weekend at the NCAA Regionals in Louisville, Ky. The outdoor championships are set for June 10-13 in Fayetteville, Ark. Joining Friday's high jump qualifying performance by Greg Shroka, senior Andrew Zollner finished second in the pole vault and freshman Andrew Riley placed second in the 110-meter hurdles, both good enough to make the national meet. As a team, the Illini placed 12th overall and fourth among Big Ten teams in the field.
"I am very pleased with the overall meet performance by the team," head coach Wayne Angel said. "Having three of our athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships makes Illinois look very good in the national field. I was impressed by the determination the team showed this weekend. In addition to the three individuals we qualified, we still have an outside chance with our mile relay."
The Illini had participants in four event finals on Saturday, the second day of the two-day meet. Zollner saved his best performance of the season for when it counted, besting his previous season high of 5.05m with a 5.36m clearance. Riley, who ranks ninth nationally in the 110-meter hurdles, just missed his season best of 13.72 with his time of 13.74.
At the regionals, the top-5 finishers in each individual meet and top-3 in relay events automatically qualify and additional times will be added on Monday. The 4x400-meter relay team of Yawusa Kinda, Gary Miller, Cody Wisslead and Daniel Jones placed 13th with a time of 3:09.92, their fifth-best time of the season. They will wait for their fate until the complete NCAA Championships field to be announced.
Sophomore Matt McHugh took 21st with a throw of 56.24m (184-06) in the hammer to end his season in the event.
Quartet of Illini women advance to Championships
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Four University of Illinois women's track and field athletes finished in the top 5 in their respective events in Louisville at the Regional Meet this weekend to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships set for June 10-13 in Fayetteville, Ark. After Angela Bizzarri won the 5,000-meters on Friday, three additional teammates followed her lead with qualifying finishes. A pair of newcomers to the roster this season excelled in the 400-meter hurdles as senior Deserea Brown won the event and freshman Latoya Griffith took third. Sophomore Chantelle Groenewoud placed fourth in the steeplechase to round out the qualifiers for the Illini.
As a team, the Illini took fourth in the field of 29 teams with 43 points, and second among the seven Big Ten teams in attendance.
"It was a great weekend," said head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey. "We competed well as a team and finished in top four in our region. I think that is the best we have done during my time at Illinois. Angela (Bizzarri) winning two years in a row in the 5,000 is outstanding, but overall all the women competed really well and that was the key. Deserea Brown coming from division II to division I and performing the way she did was huge for her and she has been a great role model for Latoya (Griffith). It helps when you have a teammate in your same events to help push you along."
In addition to the four individuals qualified, the Illini could see four more added on Monday when the entire NCAA field is announced. Junior Aja Evans took seventh in the shot put, two places out of automatic advancement, with 16.02m (52-06.75) throw. She is ranked sixth in the nation in the event. The 4x400 relay team of Brown, Omoye Ugiagbe, Ryisha Boyd and Melissa Bates bested their regional six seed with their fifth-place finish and a new season-best time of 3:34.69. Bates, the sophomore Big Ten champion in the 400 meters, also has a shot in the event after finishing seventh with a time of 54.59.
"I am very pleased with the overall meet performance by the team," head coach Wayne Angel said. "Having three of our athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships makes Illinois look very good in the national field. I was impressed by the determination the team showed this weekend. In addition to the three individuals we qualified, we still have an outside chance with our mile relay."
The Illini had participants in four event finals on Saturday, the second day of the two-day meet. Zollner saved his best performance of the season for when it counted, besting his previous season high of 5.05m with a 5.36m clearance. Riley, who ranks ninth nationally in the 110-meter hurdles, just missed his season best of 13.72 with his time of 13.74.
At the regionals, the top-5 finishers in each individual meet and top-3 in relay events automatically qualify and additional times will be added on Monday. The 4x400-meter relay team of Yawusa Kinda, Gary Miller, Cody Wisslead and Daniel Jones placed 13th with a time of 3:09.92, their fifth-best time of the season. They will wait for their fate until the complete NCAA Championships field to be announced.
Sophomore Matt McHugh took 21st with a throw of 56.24m (184-06) in the hammer to end his season in the event.
Quartet of Illini women advance to Championships
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Four University of Illinois women's track and field athletes finished in the top 5 in their respective events in Louisville at the Regional Meet this weekend to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships set for June 10-13 in Fayetteville, Ark. After Angela Bizzarri won the 5,000-meters on Friday, three additional teammates followed her lead with qualifying finishes. A pair of newcomers to the roster this season excelled in the 400-meter hurdles as senior Deserea Brown won the event and freshman Latoya Griffith took third. Sophomore Chantelle Groenewoud placed fourth in the steeplechase to round out the qualifiers for the Illini.
As a team, the Illini took fourth in the field of 29 teams with 43 points, and second among the seven Big Ten teams in attendance.
"It was a great weekend," said head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey. "We competed well as a team and finished in top four in our region. I think that is the best we have done during my time at Illinois. Angela (Bizzarri) winning two years in a row in the 5,000 is outstanding, but overall all the women competed really well and that was the key. Deserea Brown coming from division II to division I and performing the way she did was huge for her and she has been a great role model for Latoya (Griffith). It helps when you have a teammate in your same events to help push you along."
In addition to the four individuals qualified, the Illini could see four more added on Monday when the entire NCAA field is announced. Junior Aja Evans took seventh in the shot put, two places out of automatic advancement, with 16.02m (52-06.75) throw. She is ranked sixth in the nation in the event. The 4x400 relay team of Brown, Omoye Ugiagbe, Ryisha Boyd and Melissa Bates bested their regional six seed with their fifth-place finish and a new season-best time of 3:34.69. Bates, the sophomore Big Ten champion in the 400 meters, also has a shot in the event after finishing seventh with a time of 54.59.
