Distance and Pole Vault Preview

Men's Track & Field December 30, 2016

Distance and Pole Vault Preview

With the 2017 season less than two weeks away, the Fighting Illini are primed to move back into the upper echelon of the Big Ten after winning the Big Ten outdoor title in 2015. Head Coach Mike Turk returns 26 of the 35 letterwinners from last season, including six who have earned All-America honors in their career, while also adding 12 newcomers that combined for 17 IHSA state championships between cross country and track and field in 2016. The Orange and Blue make their season debut at the Border Battle in Iowa City, Iowa on January 7. Today, we preview the distance group, coming off the program's first cross country NCAA Championships appearance in 30 years, and the pole vaulters.

Distance

Coach Jake Stewart has the Illini distance group humming with the talent and depth he's added over the last few seasons and is coming off the cross country program's first NCAA Championships appearance in 30 years.

Indoor 3,000m and 5,000m school record-holder Dylan Lafond leads the group after sitting out the outdoor season last year. This past summer, Lafond competed at U.S. Olympic Trials in the 3,000m steeplechase and will once again be in the mix at NCAA Championships after earning First Team All-America honors in 2015.

Along with Lafond, Jesse Reiser (1500m) and Billy Magnesen (10K) are back for their second seasons after both advanced to NCAA Prelims in 2016.

New to the group this year, redshirt freshman Zach Dale and true freshman Jon Davis will continue to build depth after both had successful high school careers. After redshirting last spring, Dale competed at 2016 junior nationals in the 10,000m last June and was a New Balance Track All-American in 2014 and 2015. Davis enters the program after winning six IHSA state titles between the 1600m and 3200m.

In the middle distance events, the Orange and Blue return their top 800m runner from last season in freshman Konrad Eiring along with junior Garrett Lee. Also a contributor in the 4x400m and distance medley relays, Eiring posted a 1:50.95 season-best time in his debut season and three of the top-five times on the team outdoors. Before sitting out the outdoor season, Lee nearly scored for the Orange and Blue in the mile at Big Ten Indoor Championships and placed sixth at Big Ten Outdoor Championships in the 1500m in 2015.

Pole Vault

With the graduation of Mitch Mammoser and Blaze Galardy, the event will take on a new look in 2017, featuring two freshmen and a sophomore.

The newest of the three, Cooper Jazo comes to Illinois on the heels of two IHSA Class 3A state championships. Although Jazo placed runner-up in the event as a senior, the Lake Villa, Illinois native vaulted a personal-best 16'1" (4.90m). Jazo also brings national competition experience, having competed at USATF National Junior Olympics and USATF World Youth Trials.

Also a high school IHSA Class 3A state champion, Jacob LaRocca redshirted last season and will look to contribute in his second season at Illinois. Sophomore Eddie Smoliak rounds out the three vaulters after setting a season-best mark at the Illini Open last May.