2010-11 Individual Accomplishments

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NCAA National Champions

Andrew Riley, Indoor Track & Field - 60-Meter Hurdles

Junior Andrew Riley won his second career national title as he raced to victory in the 60m hurdles at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a personal-best time of 7.58, completing an undefeated season in the event. Riley broke his own school record as well as the facility record at Texas A&M's Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium. He becomes just the third Illini in school history to win both indoor and outdoor national titles after claiming the 110m hurdles crown at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Riley had an excellent start out of the blocks and cleared the opening hurdle first. He carried that advantage through the next four hurdles and through the finish line, holding off runner-up Barrett Nugent (7.61) of LSU.

"I was focused on my lane, my hurdles, and the next 15 meters afterwards," Riley said. "I just wanted to get to the first hurdle first, and that's what I did. The race wasn't as clean as I wanted, but a win is a win and I'm happy for that."

Daniel Ribeiro, Gymnastics - Pommel Horse
Tyler Mizoguchi, Gymnastics - Parallel Bars

Competing on pommel horse for the final time in his collegiate career, senior Daniel Ribeiro took home his second NCAA title on the event, while junior Tyler Mizoguchi claimed the first NCAA title of his career on parallel bars. Ribeiro, who also claimed the pommel horse title as a sophomore in 2009, tied with defending national champion Alex Naddour of Oklahoma for the top spot with a 15.550, while Mizoguchi recorded a 15.200 to secure his first national title and Illinois' first on the event since Paul Ruggeri in 2009. It also marked the second time in three years Illinois produced at least two national champions.

"To have two national champions is incredible," Ribeiro said. "I'm so proud of the team and to go out like this. It's been an amazing career and it's sad that it's over."

"I just went out there and did what I knew I could do," Mizoguchi said. "I've been training all year for parallel bars and it was just something I felt deep down, that I knew was going to happen."