May 16, 2009

Results

Big Ten Championships Sunday Heat Sheets (PDF)

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Illinois men's track and field team wrapped up day two of the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, with nine performances that qualified for tomorrow's finals at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Junior Greg Shroka and freshman Kyle Engnell also placed in their respective events on Saturday to score points toward the Illini's team total.

"I'm overall very pleased with how we did today," head coach Wayne Angel said. "There were some events where we had athletes who we expected to make finals but didn't, but we countered that with other athletes who stepped up in their place. There were definitely some pleasant surprises today that we hope will carry over into momentum for tomorrow."

Shroka took fifth in the high jump, leading the way in events that were final on Saturday. The junior had a season-best height of 6-11 3/4, hitting the NCAA regional standard for the second time this season and scoring in the high jump for the third consecutive year at the outdoor championships. Engnell also scored points for the Orange and Blue in his first conference championships, placing seventh in the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 9:10.99.

Senior Gakologelwang Masheto will look to add to his five Big Ten titles tomorrow, advancing to finals in the 200m and 400m. Masheto clocked the fastest time in the 200m, timing 21.05 for a new personal-best in the event. He also cruised to the 400m finals with a time of 46.50, easily winning his heat and posting the second-fastest prelims time.

Sophomore Cody Wisslead was impressive in the 400m hurdles prelims, timing a personal-best 52.06 to rank second in the event heading into tomorrow's final. Wisslead also won his heat and posted a regionally-qualifying time for the third time this year.

In the 110m hurdles prelims, freshman Andrew Riley hit a hurdle but still easily advanced to the final by finishing third overall with a time of 14.39. Riley will look to win the title tomorrow after taking the 60m hurdles title at the Big Ten Indoor Championships.

Illinois will be represented by two athletes in the middle distance finals, as junior Brian Beaird advanced to the 800m final and junior Mike Murray advanced to the 1,500m final. Beaird timed a personal-best 1:50.52 to advance to a conference final for the first time in his career, while Murray advanced to the 1,500m final for the second time in his career with a performance of 3:53.16.

The Illini 4x100m relay of Riley, Stanley Azie, Wisslead and Azeez Shogbuyi had the third-fastest prelims time, running 40.77 to advance to the final. Shogbuyi also made the 100m final, finishing seventh in prelims with a time of 10.74. Azie ran a personal-best time of 21.41 in the 200m to qualify for the event final, also taking 11th in 100m prelims (10.85). Wisslead missed the 100m hurdles final by one spot after taking 10th in prelims. Other noteworthy performances on Saturday included Riley taking ninth in the high jump (6-10 3/4) and Dan Jones running a personal-best 200m of 21.58.

Illinois will resume competition at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. CT with the pole vault. The men's 4x100m relay final is scheduled to start at 11:55 a.m. CT, with the 4x400m relay closing out the championships at 2:45 p.m.

Illinois Saturday Results at Big Ten Outdoor Championships
Q/q = qualified for Sunday event final

Long Jump (FINAL)
15. Azeez Shogbuyi 22-1 3/4 (6.75m)
21. Earnest Green 20-7 3/4 (6.29m)

High Jump (FINAL)
5. Greg Shroka 6-11 3/4 (2.13m); 4 team points
9. Andrew Riley 6-10 3/4 (2.10m)

Discus (FINAL)
13. Travis Leonard 155-6 (47.39m)
19. Brett Einbecker 147-11 (45.08m)

3,000m Steeplechase (FINAL)
7. Kyle Engnell 9:10.99; 2 team points

100m (Prelims)
7. Azeez Shogbuyi 10.74 q
11. Stanley Azie 10.85

200m (Prelims)
1. Gakologelwang Masheto 21.05 Q
8. Stanley Azie 21.41 q
13. Dan Jones 21.58

400m (Prelims)
2. Gakologelwang Masheto 46.50 Q
12. Dan Jones 48.27
16. Yawusa Kinda 48.39

800m (Prelims)
9. Brian Beaird 1:50.52 q
16. Gary Miller 1:51.48
21. Scott Phelps 1:52.85

1,500m (Prelims)
9. Mike Murray 3:53.16 q

110m Hurdles (Prelims)
3. Andrew Riley 14.39 Q
10. Cody Wisslead 15.02
12. Josh Gist 15.14
14. Shawn Ledbetter 15.25

400m Hurdles (Prelims)
2. Cody Wisslead 52.06 Q
14. Nic Haab 56.38
16. Shawn Ledbetter 56.95

4x100m Relay (Prelims)
3. Illinois 40.77 Q
(Andrew Riley, Stanley Azie, Cody Wisslead, Azeez Shogbuyi)

Big Ten Championships Men's Team Rankings - 7 Events Scored
1. Minnesota 67
2. Indiana 41
3. Purdue 30
4. Ohio State 26
4. Michigan State 26
6. Michigan 25
7. Iowa 20
8. Wisconsin 17
9. Penn State 12
10. ILLINOIS 9