Illinois men’s track and field sprinter Andrew Riley was named Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week after breaking his personal record in the 60-meter and notching an NCAA automatic qualifying time in the 60-meter hurdles at the Tyson Invitational.
Riley topped his personal best 60-meter time at the Tyson Invitational in the preliminaries at 6.68 seconds, and posted the second-fastest 60 hurdles time in the NCAA this season (7.53).
Riley and the Illini have the weekend off before the Big Ten Championships in Lincoln, Neb., begin
Feb. 24.
*Women’s track and field adds 5 recruits*
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The Illinois women’s track and field team announced the signing of five recruits Monday, headlined by the No. 1-ranked sprinter in the country.
Morolake Akinosun, of Aurora, Ill., boasts times of 11.42 seconds in the 100 meters and 23.49 in the 200 meters.
“She is versatile enough to run the 100, 200, 400 and both relays,” Illinois head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey said. “It’s very exciting to have the number one United States recruit signed to our program.”
Paired with Akinosun in the sprints will be Elexis Fuller-Stewart, of Milwaukee, who has clocked times in the 100 and 200 of 11.74 and 24.08 seconds, respectively. She is also the Wisconsin state record holder in the 100-meter hurdles.
Buford-Bailey’s class also includes Jenn DeBellis, pole vaulter and 2012 State Athlete of the Year in Washington; distance runner Amanda Fox, Illinois’ 2011 XC Gatorade Athlete of the Year; and Lindsey Rakosnik, who has a USATF National Junior Olympic title in the 1,500 meters and an Illinois state title in the 800 meters.
