April 8, 2000

AUSTIN, Texas --Last year Sherman Armstrong rewrote the hurdle record books for Illinois track & field. Now in his junior season, there's nothing left for Armstrong to do except for break his own records. And that's what happened today at the final day of the 73rd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. Armstrong shattered his own school record in the 400 meter hurdles by running a sizzling time of 49.81. That time not only breaks his previous Illinois record of 50.13, it also automatically qualifies Armstrong for the 2000 NCAA Outdoor Championships in June.

Armstrong's time was good enough for second place in the finals, where he was beaten only by Baylor's Bayano Komani, the defending national champion in the 400 meter hurdles. Armstrong's time is the second fastest in the nation this season and the fastest recorded Big Ten time in nearly a decade.

"Sherman was sensational today," said Associate Head Coach Willie Williams. "We've seen him do some amazing things on the track during his Illinois career, and this ranks right up there. The most exciting thing is knowing that he has the capability of doing even more and has the work ethic to make it happen."

For the Illini women at the Texas Relays, sophomore Chequetta Bearfield finished ninth in the 100 meter dash finals, running a time of 11.73. That followed up Bearfield's personal best from preliminary competition on Friday, where she ran a personal best and provisionally qualifying time of 11.55

Also for the women, freshman Perdita Felicien ran in the invitational section of the 100 meter hurdles. Felicien finished eighth with a time of 13.82.

CHARLESTON, Ill. --In addition to the Texas Relays, both teams had athletes competing at the Eastern Illinois Big Blue Classic. Cold weather moved the first part of competition indoors, so sprint and high hurdle events were run at the 60 meter distance. The 200 meter dash and a number of field events also took place indoors. In the afternoon, the remaining events took place outdoors.

The Illini men took third place with a score of 75.50, despite only entering athletes in 11 of the 20 scored events. The women's team placed ninth with a score of 20 points, but only took six athletes to the meet, who competed in a total of six events.

Highlighting the meet for the men's team was senior Greg Schultz, who won the 800 meter run with a hand-time of 1:54.6. Josh Harford took second place in the 400 meter dash with a hand-time of 50.2, while also anchoring Illinois' 4x400 meter relay team which won in a hand-time of 3:20.7. Joining Harford on the relay were Jake Lindley, who also finished fifth in the 400 meter dash (51.5), Schultz, and Barry Huntley, who also took ninth in the 400 meter hurdles (56.6).

Elmer Hickman finished third in the 60 meter dash, running a time of 6.92. John Kronforst placed third in the 1500 meter run with a hand-time of 4:04.7. Some of the top field performances belonged to T.J. Jumper who was fourth in the high jump (6 ft., 7 3/4 in.) and pole vaulters Garett Nelson and Marty Keifer, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

"In spite of the weather conditions, they did a really good job of focusing and competing," head coach Gary Wieneke said. "I thought they really responded this week and performed well."

For the women at Eastern, freshman Tracy Moss had a personal best in the discus to place second among collegiates with a throw of 156 feet, 7 inches. That places her third on the Illinois all-time records list in the discus.

Carolyn Estes doubled in the 60 meter hurdles and 200 meter dash. She placed fourth in the hurdles (8.90) and took home sixth in the 200 (26.73).

AT TEXAS RELAYS