University of Illinois
Big Ten Outdoor Championships
Illini Sweep 1500M titles and win men's 4x400 at B1G Championships
May 16, 2021 | Women's Track & Field, Men's Track & Field
RECAP
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois Fighting Illini added three event wins to their successful Big Ten Outdoor Championships meet on Sunday afternoon at Demirjian Park. The men finished in eighth place with 58 points, their highest finish since 2017, while the women ended their afternoon in 11th place with 31 points, their highest since 2015.
Jon Davis started the championship Sunday with a win in the men's 1500 m. His time of 3:51.55 paced the group and earned ten crucial points for the men's side. Olivia Howell followed that directly with a record-breaking performance of her own, winning the women's 1500 m in 4:12.86. This mark is the new Illinois program record and sets a PR for Howell.
Bret Dannis earned his team two points in the men's 110 m hurdles final with a seventh place finish. Dannis passed the finish line in 14.09. Jason Thormo upheld the momentum with a sixth place finish of his own in the men's 400 m. He finished in 47.17, good for three points.
In the women's 400 m, Jessica McDowell placed third in a time of 52.91. This set a new personal best mark for the sophomore, and moved her into fifth place in program history in the event. Teammates Amira Aduma and Nya Carr also earned points for the Orange and Blue in the short sprints. Carr placed fifth in 11.71 while Aduma placed eighth in 11.89 to combine for five more points for the women.
Robert Williams completed the men's 400 m hurdles race in 52.00, good enough to award him seventh place and take two points for the squad.
After scoring in the heptathlon yesterday, Jessica Franklin earned another point with an eighth place finish in the women's 400 m hurdles. Her time was 1:00.00.
To conclude the meet for the Illini, Williams and Thormo teamed up with Aman Thornton and Kashief King to take home the gold medal in the men's 4x400 m relay. Their 3:06.26 was the fastest team relay time on the year.
Notes:
- This is the first time the University of Illinois has hosted the Big Ten Outdoor Track Championships since 2008.
- 58 team points is the most for the men's squad since 2017 when they had 68
- 31 team points is the most for the women's squad since 2013 when they had 120
- Olivia Howell and Jon Davis are the first male/female athletes from the same school to each win the 1500 m event since 2007. They are only the fifth duo all time to accomplish the feat.
- Jonathan Wells is the sixth individual to win the high jump and the long jump at the same Big Ten Championships in 120 years of Big Ten Track and Field meets.
- Wells is the first high jump/long jump champion since 1985
- Wells is the second high jump/long jump champion in the last 92 years
Illini Scorers
Robert Williams, Aman Thornton, Kashief King, Jason Thormo – 4x400 m – 1st place – 10 points
Jonathan Wells – High jump – 1st place – 10 points
Jonathan Wells – Long jump – 1st place – 10 points
Jon Davis – 1500 m – 1st place – 10 points
Manning Plater – Hammer throw – 3rd place – 6 points
Shrey Chowdhary – Javelin – 6th place – 3 points
Jason Thormo – 400 m – 6th place – 3 points
Bret Dannis – 110 m hurdles – 7th place – 2 points
Robert Williams – 400 m hurdles – 7th place – 2 points
Manning Plater – Discus – 8th place – 1 point
Tyler Sudduth – Shot put – 8th place – 1 point
Olivia Howell – 1500 m – 1st place – 10 points
Jessica McDowell – 400 m – 3rd place – 6 points
Nya Carr – 100 m – 5th place – 4 points
Allison McGrath – 10,000 m – 7th place – 2 points
Ayah Aldadah – 3000 m steeplechase – 7th place – 2 points
Jessica Franklin – Heptathlon – 8th place – 1 point
Jessica Franklin – 400 m hurdles – 8th – 1 point
Amira Aduma – 100 m – 8th place – 1 point
Next Up
Those athletes that qualify will partake in the NCAA West Preliminaries, hosted by Texas A&M in College Station, Tex. the weekend of May 27 - May 29.
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.
