University of Illinois
Big Ten Indoor Championships
Illini Set to Take on Big Ten Championships this Weekend
February 24, 2021 | Women's Track & Field, Men's Track & Field
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Fighting Illini Track & Field travels to the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio this weekend for the Big Ten Indoor Track Championships. Action will span from Thursday, February 25 to Saturday, February 27. The meet will kick off on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. CT with the heptathlon 60 meters and conclude for the day at 5:00 p.m. CT with the women's distance medley relay. Friday the events will resume at 9:30 a.m. CT with the heptathlon 60 meter hurdles and finish with the pentathlon 800 meters at 7:00 p.m. CT. The final day will begin at 10:00 a.m. CT with the men's pole vault and will conclude with the women's 4x400 meter relay at 5:15 p.m CT.
| Big Ten Indoor Championships | |
|---|---|
| When | Thursday, February 25 | Friday, February 26 | Saturday, February 27 |
| Where | SPIRE Institute // Geneva, Ohio |
| Follow | Live Results | Event Schedule | Championship Central |
| Watch | BTN+ Thursday | BTN+ Friday | BTN+ Saturday |
| Meet Information | Meet Notes | Men's Quick Facts | Women's Quick Facts |
| 2020 Indoor Results | Men's Indoor Performance List | Women's Indoor Performance List |
| Social Media | @IlliniTrackXC  | #Illini | illinitrackxc  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
Follow the Action
Fans can follow live results throughout the Big Ten Championships at https://tf.deltatiming.com/big-ten/2021-big-ten-indoor-championships as well as by following @IlliniTrackXC on Twitter. All three days will also be streamed on BTN+. A full recap of the events will be posted on fightingillini.com following the conclusion of the meet.
Know the Field
13 Big Ten schools are set to compete at the 2021 B1G Indoor Championships. USTFCCCA nationally ranked opponents on the women's side include: No. 22 Michigan State and No. 23 Minnesota. No men's B1G programs are currently ranked. The Ohio State women (104 points) and Indiana men's team (120.5 points) were victorious at the 2020 Big Ten Indoor Championships.
ILLINI TO WATCH
Weight Throw: Thursday 11:00 a.m.
2021 Indoor Season: Named B1G Field Athlete of the Week (1/17-1/23)...In his first action as an Illini, won the weight throw at the Badger Icebreaker with a toss of 73'6", four inches short of the school record... Won the weight throw at the Husker Quad with a throw of 72'8"...Won the weight throw at the Hawkeye B1G Invitational with a throw of 70'10.5"...Currently sits in second place in Illinois history in the weight throw...Currently sits in first place in the Big Ten in the weight throw
2020 Outdoor Season: Canceled due to COVID-19
600 m: Semifinals Thursday 11:25 a.m - Finals Saturday 10:55 a.m.
2021 Indoor Season: Won the 600m at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational with a time of 1:18.06... Took third place at the Hawkeye B1G Invitational with a time of 1:54.06 in the 800m...Sits in ninth place in school history in the 600m...Currently second in the B1G in the 600m
2020 Outdoor Season: Canceled due to COVID-19
Jonathan Davis
5000 m: Saturday 11:20 a.m.
2021 Indoor Season: Won the 3000m at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational with a time of 8:08.85... 2018 USTFCCCA Midwest Region Indoor Track Athlete of the Year
2020 Outdoor Season: Canceled due to COVID-19
60 m: Semifinals Friday 4:00 p.m - Finals Saturday 3:25 p.m.
Long jump: Thursday 3:00 p.m.
2021 Indoor Season: Placed 3rd in both the long jump and the 60 m at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational... Secured second place for the Illini in the long jump at the Husker Quad with a jump of 19-1.5
2020 Outdoor Season: Canceled due to COVID-19
3000 m: Thursday 4:20 p.m.
2021 Indoor Season: Won her first race of the year, the 3000 m at the Badger Icebreaker with a time of 9:37.37... Won the mile at the Husker Quad with a time of 4:43.86... Placed second in the 3000 m at the Hawkeye B1G Invitational with a time of 9:24.95, a personal best and the third fastest time in school history
2020 Outdoor Season: Canceled due to COVID-19
Mile: Semifinals Friday 3:40 p.m. - Finals Saturday 3:00 p.m.
2021 Indoor Season: Set the Illinois school record in the 1000 m while winning the event at the Badger Icebreaker with a time of 2:46.52... Won the 800 m at the Husker Quad with a time of 2:09.84... Won the mile at the Hawkeye B1G Invitational with a B1G leading 4:40.85...Anchored the first place distance medley relay team at the Hawkeye B1G Invitational...Currently leads the B1G in the mile
2020 Outdoor Season: Canceled due to COVID-19
Next Up
Following the B1G Championships, qualifying athletes will compete at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Track Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. on Thursday, March 11- Saturday, March 13.
For complete coverage of Fighting Track & Field, visit FightingIllini.com, follow the Illini on Twitter (@IlliniTrackXC) and Instagram (illinitrackxc) and like Fighting Illini Track and Field & Cross Country on Facebook.
Illini Notes
HOWELL'S DOMINANT MILE
Olivia Howell won the mile run at the Hawkeye B1G Invitational with a time of 4:40.85, entering her into first place in the conference in the event. This mark also places her into third place in school history in the event.
PLATER'S WIN STREAK CONTINUES
Manning Plater has now competed for the Illini in three meets, and won the weight throw in each of them (Badger Icebreaker Meet, Husker Quad, Hawkeye B1G Invitational). He currently sits in first place in the Big Ten, sixth in the nation, and second in the Illinois history books in the event.
CRADDOCK AND HOWELL DOMINATE FOLLOWING XC CHAMPIONSHIPS
One week after running in the Big Ten XC Championships, Rebecca Craddock and Olivia Howell each won their respective event at the Husker Quad. Craddock took first in the mile with a time of 4:43.86 while Howell won the 800 m with a time of 2:09.84
THORNTON ENTERS RECORD BOOKS
Sophomore Aman Thornton won the 600 m at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational with a personal best time of 1:18.06. This places him into ninth place in Illinois history in the event, passing Malcolm Taylor's time from 2013. He also ranks first in the Big Ten in this event.
MANNING PLATER NAMED B1G FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK (1/18)
Plater was named the Field Athlete of the Week the B1G Conference announced on Wednesday, Jan. 20. He was recognized for his performance in the Badger Icebreaker, moving him into second place in school history in the weight throw. This is Plater's first career Athlete of the Week Award, and the Illini's first of the Field variation since Davis Fraker in 2011. Jon Davis was the last to win a weekly B1G honor as a track athlete twice in 2019.
ILLINI ECSTATIC TO BE BACK IN ACTION
Head Coach Mike Turk said he felt as if his team "won the Olympics" after competing in the Badger Icebreaker Meet, the team's first competition in nearly eleven months following the postponements due to COVID-19. He also called the team's performance "inspiring", as they won eight events as well as added names to the Illinois all-time record book throughout the day.
HOWELL SETS SCHOOL RECORD IN WOMEN'S 1000M
In the Badger Icebreaker at Wisconsin on January 16, sophomore Olivia Howell ran a 2:46.52 in the Women's 1000 m, breaking the Illinois school record in the event. The previous best was 2:49.93, held by Laura Simmering set in 1989. Senior Mikeala Lucki also moved into fifth place all time in this event with a time of 2:51.17 in the same race.
PLATER IMPRESSES IN DEBUT
Michigan Graduate-Transfer Manning Plater had an impressive showing in his first action as an Illini, winning the weight throw at the Badger Icebreaker. His throw of 73'6" is a personal best and ranks second all time for the Illini, four inches behind Davis Fracker's 73'10" in 2015. Plater's throw would have won him the Indoor B1G Championship last year by nearly a foot. Brian Keyes also moved into 10th place in school history with his throw of 59'7 1/4". This throw ranks first in the Big Ten.
