University of Illinois
Illini Invitational
Track & Field to Host Illini Invitational on Friday & Saturday
January 20, 2022 | Women's Track & Field, Men's Track & Field
Preview
| Illini Invitational | |
|---|---|
| Dates | Friday & Saturday, January 21-22 |
| Location | Champaign, Ill. // UI Armory // Illinois Athletics Vaccination Policy |
| Meet Information | Schedule | Heat Sheets | Information | Live Results |
| Shop | Fighting Illini Store |
| Social Media | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men's and women's track & field teams are set to host the first of two indoor track meets this season with the Illini Invitational on Friday and Saturday, January 21-22 at the UI Armory.
The Illini will be welcoming in teams from Chicago State, Illinois State, UIC, Northern Illinois and the Wisconsin throwers. Friday will consist of the heptathlon and pentathlon events starting with the heptathlon 60m dash at 2 p.m. CT. On Saturday, field events will begin at 9:30 a.m. CT with the men's pole vault, with running events starting at 12 p.m. CT with the preliminary rounds of the men's and women's 60m dash.
UI Armory COVID-19 Protocols
With the recent surge in COVID-19 cases on the University of Illinois campus and throughout the Central Illinois region, the University will institute a proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative-test protocol for all university sponsored events open to the public with more than 200 people in attendance beginning January 1, 2022. All guests ages 12 and older entering Atkins Tennis Center will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination OR a negative COVID-19 PCR or rapid test taken within 72 hours of the event to enter the facility.
The state of Illinois and University of Illinois remains under a mask mandate. Face coverings must be worn by all fans over the age of 5 years.
Follow the Action
Live results will be available through ShaZam Racing HERE and Illini fans can follow the action on @IlliniTrackXC on Twitter.
Last Time Out
Illinois opened the 2022 indoor season with seven event wins as well as recording eight runner-up finishes at the Wisconsin Midwest Invitational on Saturday (January 15) at the Gately Indoor Track.
Illini Event Champions:
Women's High Jump: Tacoria Humphrey // 1.71m (5-07.25)
Women's 1 Mile: Emma Milburn // 4:50.27
Men's 1 Mile: Jack Roberts // 4:11.38
Women's 800m: Olivia Howell // 2:09.63
Men's 600m: William Merrick // 1:20.35
Men's 60m Hurdles: Bret Dannis // 7.99
Men's 4x400 Relay: Robert Williams, DeVontae Ford, Jason Thormo, Kashief King // 3:13.61
Illini Notes
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Illini Notes
- The Illini Invitational is one of two home indoor meets the Illini will be hosting in 2022. Illinois will also host the Illini Classic on February 18.
- The Illini had 16 freshmen make their Illinois debut at last Saturday's Wisconsin Midwest Invitational, including Halle Hill, Sam Poglitsch, Margaret Gamboa, Amalia Malecek, Lydia Malecek, Logan Neely, Mia Abraham, Tacoria Humphrey, Abby Lynch, Tori Thomas, Dacorey Ware, Jake Myers, William Merrick, Nicolas Dovalovsky, DeVontae Ford and Daniel Mboyo.
- Junior Tyler Sudduth had a notable day at the Wisconsin Midwest Invitational as he set a personal-best mark of 18.41 in the men's shot put to finish as runner-up, with his mark ranking as fifth-best in program history.
- Freshman Tacoria Humphrey won the women's high jump as she cleared a mark of 1.71 on her first try, with graduate student Kristin Higgins coming in second after recording a mark of 1.71m on her second attempt.
- Six of the Illini's seven event titles came in the running events as UI dominated in the mile as senior Emma Milburn (4:50.27) and junior Jack Roberts (4:11.38) each took first in the event, while freshman Halle Hill (4:50.28) and redshirt-junior Colin Yandel (4:11.40) both registered runner-up finishes in the race.
- The Illinois men finished tied for ninth with 30 points at the 2021 Big Ten Indoor Championships, with the women finishing in eleventh place with 32 points.
- The Illini return 15 student-athletes who qualified for the 2021 NCAA Outdoor West Regionals, including Jon Davis (1500m), Bret Dannis (110m hurdles), Robert Williams (400m hurdles/4x400m), Tyler Sudduth (shot put), Jason Thormo (4x400m), Kashief King (4x400m) and Declan Rustay (4x100m) on the men's side, as well as Ayah Aldadah (3000m steeplechase), Nya Carr (100m), Rebecca Craddock (5000m), Olivia Howell (1500m), Jessica McDowell (400m), Allison McGrath (10000m), Nicole Nguyen (Relay) and Camille Osborne (Relay) on the women's side.
- Olivia Howell won the women's mile with a time of 4:43.36 for the Illini, making her the first female Illini Big Ten individual champion since 2015. Howell, who earned Second-Team All-America honors was named the 2021 Big Ten Outdoor Track Freshman of the Year after taking home the Big Ten outdoor championship in the 1500m.
- Jon Davis is coming off another strong cross country season and earned First-Team All-Big Ten accolades in the 1,500m and Second-Team All-Big Ten in distance medley relay.
- Jessica McDowell earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors a season ago after placing second in the 400m at the Big Ten Indoor Championships with a personal record of 53.51, ranking as the third-best time in program history.
Next Up
Illinois will next travel to Louisville, Ky., for the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational on Saturday, January 29.
For more Fighting Illini Track & Field news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow @IlliniTrackXC on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.
