CHAMPAIGN, IL (CHAMBANA TODAY) – The Illinois men’s track and field team finished the first day of the NCAA West Preliminaries on Wednesday (May 22). Two field athletes punched their tickets to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, senior Tyler Sudduth in the shot put and freshman Cody Johnston in the pole vault.

Sudduth qualified to his first NCAA Outdoor Championships throwing the eighth-best mark in the shot put today, 19.01m (62-4 1/2). Johnston will join him at the national meet after he placed third in the pole vault clearing 5.42m (17-9 1/4).

The top-12 athletes in field events from each the NCAA East and West Preliminaries advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore. Sudduth and Johnston now turn their sights to standing on the podium (top-8) as All-Americans. 

Senior Robert Williams ran a season-best 400m hurdle time of 50.50 to take second in his heat, seventh overall, to earn the automatic qualifying spot to Friday’s quarterfinals. Sophomore Tadeas Placek joins Williams in Friday’s quarterfinals, but in the 800m where he placed 20th on a time of 1:48.67 to earn an at-large spot.

Sophomore Nicolas Dovalovsky placed 31st in the 800m (1:49.28). Senior Will Merrick placed 37th in the 1500m run today clocking in at 3:45.16. Sophomore Viktor Morozov placed 41st in the long jump with a 7.03m (23-0 3/4) leap. Freshman Eleftherios Kontonikola did not start in the javelin as he pulled out of competition due to injury.

UP NEXT

The women’s team begins their first-round action tomorrow (May 23) with field events starting at 10 a.m. and track events starting at 6 p.m. CT. Fans can watch on ESPN+ starting at 6 p.m.

NOTES

  • Cody Johnston placed third and qualified to the NCAA Championships in the pole vault, 5.42m (17-9 1/4).
  • Tyler Sudduth placed eighth and qualified to the NCAA Championships in the shot put, 19.01m (62-4 1/2).
  • Robert Williams placed seventh in the 400mH (50.50), qualified to Friday’s quarterfinals.
  • Tadeas Placek placed 20th in the 800m (1:48.67), qualified to Friday’s quarterfinals.
  • Will Merrick placed 37th in the 1500m (3:45.16).
  • Viktor Morozov placed 41st in the long jump, 7.03m (23-0 3/4).
  • Eleftherios Kontonikola did not start in the javelin, pulled out of competition due to injury.