The Illinois men’s track and field team will face its first major challenge of the outdoor season this weekend as the team travels to Auburn, Ala., for the Tiger Track Classic.
It will be the first scoring meet for the Illini against high-level competition during the outdoor campaign, as they compete against elite teams from the ACC and SEC such as Clemson and host Auburn.
“This is a meet that always attracts some of the better sprinters and hurdlers in the country,” head coach Mike Turk said. “This is the first real challenge for us and it will be a much greater challenge for us than the first meet at Mississippi State.”
One of the biggest disadvantages the Illini face is that many of the southern teams have been training outdoors for a greater period of time, given that the weather is more conducive to outdoor training. Turk said many of the team’s competitors are a few weeks ahead of his squad in terms of training and the adjustment to the outdoor season, with many already at midseason form.
Illinois will have the majority of its top-line sprinters and runners competing in their main events over the weekend. Turk had previously been trying some of his best athletes in different events, such as senior Ryan Lynn running in the 1500 meters. Lynn will return to his main event, the 800 meters, and sophomore Brandon Stryganek will run the 100- and 200-meter dashes and junior Stephon Pamilton in the 400-meter dash. Stryganek sat out the 100 in favor of the long jump at last weekend’s Bill Cornell Spring Classic, while Pamilton did not compete.
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“Guys that ran at indoor nationals like Stephon and Ryan are still a week or two behind in their training, so this will be another chance to see some of our top level guys improve,” Turk said. “We just want to see some solid marks from the guys competing in their main events, and see them take another step toward getting to midseason form by the time Drake Relays roll around.”
The other main focus for the Illini will be once again on the further progression of the 400-meter relay. After a first-place finish last weekend the relay squad will have its first opportunity of the season to square off versus much tougher competition. The relay will feature — as it did last week — juniors Vanier Joseph and Julian Smith, and sophomores DJ Zahn and Stryganek.
“We got off to a decent start in the 4×1, but we have so much room to improve, especially in our exchanges,” Smith said.
Smith will also compete individually in the 100, 200 and the long jump.
“I’m looking to get my time down in the 100 and 200 to get back to the place I was at the same time last season,” he said. “In the long jump, since the first time I’m doing it, I’m just happy to do all that I can to help score points for us.”
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