CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois track and field program has revealed their early signing class for the 2023 year. First year head coach/director of track and field, Petros Kyprianou, landed eight recruits in this cycle.

"This is a very special group of future Illini as they will be our first ever recruiting class as a staff," said Petros Kyprianou. "When we embarked on this journey of revamping this team, we have thought of ways to inject new levels of expectations to our team goals. Quality over quantity will always be our sight in building a championship team. We have been shut down by many, but also signed some world class talent. What we are used to calling them as 5-star recruits. We had to go overseas to get some firepower to complement some of our Nation's best. Our coaching staff worked tirelessly and we are proud to have signed this strong field events-flavored group to help build something special in the next few years."

2023 Signees

Includes mid-year who will compete in January

NEW ILLINI

All rankings are according to MileSplit/WorldAthletics

Olivia Campbell (Pittsfield, Illinois) Pittsfield High School
Olivia Campbell was the first Illini to sign for the recruiting cycle of 2023-24. The 2022 IHSA Discus Champion is an Illinois native out of Pittsfield. Her discus (48m, 157' 5.75"), hammer throw (51.14m, 167' 9.25") and weight throw (16.22m, 53' 2.5") all rank first in the state of Illinois. Nationally her weight throw mark is fourth, hammer throw 13th and discus 17th.

Sophia Beckmon (Oregon City, Oregon) Oregon City High School
Sophia Beckmon came in as one of the top targets for Kyprianou. Beckmon is a two-time OSAA 6A State Champion long jumper (2021, 2022). Her personal-best long jump (6.30m 20' 8") is the best in the state of Oregon and top U.S. returner. She ran a 11.74 100m and 23.91 200m which are the third best in the state.

Javaris Ambrose (Harvey, Illinois) Thornton Township High School
Javaris Ambrose is another Illinois grown prospect added to this cycle. Ambrose has the top mark in the state of Illinois for the weight throw (17.40m 56' 11.5"). His personal-best hammer throw (55.20m 181') ranks second in the state. His best shot put of 18.60m, 60' 10.5" is slated as the third best in Illinois.

Alex Ornelas (Houston, Texas) Langham Creek High School
Alex Ornelas is one of the top hurdlers in the nation. His 300m hurdle time of 36.2 is the fourth best in the nation, second in Texas. He also holds the sixth best 400m hurdle time in the state (53.67), 30th nationally. His 48.51 400m is fourth in Texas, 30th in the nation. Short distance hurdles don't bother him either, his 55m (7.84) is second and 60m (8.29) is 17th in Texas.  

Elizabeth Ndudi (Nantes, France)
Elizabeth Ndudi is one of the overseas prospects that Kyprianou loves. If he can't garner interest from top U.S. athletes, he has no qualms about making trips to other countries to pull there's. Ndudi has the 203rd best long jump in the world currently with a 6.38m (20' 11") leap. Her personal-best 100m is 11.88 and 200m is 24.8.

Cody Johnston (Hobart, Indiana) Hobart High School
Cody Johnston is the only athlete pulled in this class from the neighboring state of Indiana. Johnston is the reigning 2022 Outdoor IHSAA State Champion in pole vault. He holds both the top vaults for outdoor and indoor in the state of Indiana. Outdoor is 5.18m (17'), third in the nation and indoor is 5.10m (16' 7") and sixth in the nation.

Jackson Gilbert (Urbana, Illinois) Urbana High School
Jackson Gilbert is staying close to represent his hometown here at UI. Gilbert is the reigning 400m IHSA Boys Track and Field State Champion where he ran a 47.48. He also holds the state's third best times in the 200m (22.33) and the 300m (35.39).

Kyle Clark (Bloomington, Indiana) Bloomington North High School
Kyle Clark is the second recruit in this class from Indiana. Most recently he placed third at the Mideast Cross Country Championships. His 1600m personal-best is sixth in the state of Indiana with a 4:13.41.

"Successful recruiting is only as successful as the coaching we have done in our careers but most importantly the coaching we are planning to do here in Champaign. This group will help us attract more of our nation's bests as we continue this championship team building journey!"