Williams, O’Brien Post Top-10 Program Times; Three Others Qualify on Day One of B1G Outdoor Championships

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Illinois track and field teams wrapped up day one action of the Big Ten Outdoor Championships on Friday, May 12. Junior Robert Williams won his 400m hurdles heat and placed second overall (50.56) to automatically qualify for Sunday’s finals. That’s now tied for the ninth fastest time in Fighting Illini history. Senior Will O’Brien etched his name in the record books too with his 3:44.21 1,500m. It’s the tenth fastest in Illini history and he placed third overall to qualify for finals.

Sophomore DeVontae Ford placed fifth overall to claim one of the six at-large qualifying spots to join Williams in the 400mH finals (51.42). Junior Olivia Howell won her 1,500m heat to automatically qualify for the finals (4:22.40). Redshirt junior Colin Yandel rounded out today’s qualifiers with his eleventh place finish in the 1,500m and near personal-best (3:46.62).

True freshman Olivia Campbell made the final cut for the hammer throw, she placed ninth [57.61m (189-0)]. Junior Tyler Cushing placed tenth in the 10,000m (30:54.30).

Junior Michael Shafis placed eleventh in the javelin throw, 56.60m (185-8). Redshirt junior Kashief King crossed eleventh in the 200m dash (21.24); freshman Azariyah Bryant placed 13th (23.80).

MULTI-EVENTS

Junior Aiden Ouimet and Senior Danni Stoughton finished the first half of their decathlon and heptathlon. Ouimet currently sits in fourth place with 3,928 points while Stoughton is in tenth with 3,034 points.

Ouimet placed third in the long jump with a 7.00m (22-11 3/4) leap. He also set new personal-bests in the 400m dash (49.29) and the shot put 13.86m (45-5 3/4). Stoughton placed third in the 200m dash with a new personal-best (24.45). She also tied her PB in the 100mH (15.11).

NOTES

• Robert Williams won his heat in the 400mH, second overall (50.56), new PB and ninth fastest in school history.
  
• Will O’Brien placed third in the 1,500m (3:44.21), new PB and tenth fastest in school history.

  • Colin Yandel placed eleventh and qualified for finals (3:46.62).

• Olivia Howell won her heat and qualified for the 1,500m finals (4:22.40), placed twelfth overall.
  
• Olivia Campbell placed ninth in the hammer throw, 57.61m (189-0).
• Tyler Cushing placed tenth in the 10,000m (30:54.30).
• Michael Shafis placed eleventh in the javelin throw, 56.60m…