CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini track and field programs finishing their first meet of the season at the Armory on Friday, Jan. 6 2023. This is the first-time new Director of track, field and cross country Petros Kyprianou got to showcase his team to a live audience.
"Today was a nice way of breaking the ice and shaking off the rust for our teams," said Petros Kyprianou. "Needless to say, we have a lot of work to do to be where we want, but our student-athletes competed well and showed signs of progress. This meet served as a 'pre-season starter' and even thought we had a plethora of personal-bests it will help us build some momentum. Main goal will always be to get our young teams qualified for the NCAA Championships and the conversation needs to start now."
There were five new Illinois top-10 marks today: freshman Olivia Campbell (fourth) 17.72m (58-1 3/4) and Faith Deering (eighth) 15.66m (51-4 1/2) in the weight throw, freshman Azariyah Bryant (eighth) in the 60m hurdles (7.38), sophomore Tacoria Humphrey (tenth) in the long jump 6.01m (19-8 3/4) and freshman Mia Morello (tenth) in pole vault 3.87m (12-8 1/4).
Senior Tyler Sudduth improved on his personal-best weight throw mark to 19.53m (64-1), which still has him as the sixth best in program history.
Plenty of other Illini notched new personal-best marks today. Redshirt senior Will Rezny 16.44m (53-11 1/4) and junior Hunter Hendershot 16.15m (53-0) moved up their weight throw marks. Hendershot also notched a new best in the shot put, 16.14m (52-11 1/2).
Sophomore Abby Lynch ran a new best 600m (1:37.60) as well as senior Will O'Brien (1:21.87). In the 60m hurdles both sophomore DeVontae Ford (8.01) and senior Aiden Ouimet (8.49) ran new personal-best. In the same event, graduate student Kionnah Weaver recorded a new best (8.58).
In the 60m dash five Illini sprinted new personal-best times: Senior Jessica McDowell (7.54), sophomore Tacoria Humphrey (7.64), redshirt senior Kashief King (6.96), graduate student Bret Dannis (6.91), and sophomore Daniel Mboyo (6.96).
"We are far from the status we want to achieve but if we truly take it one day at a time and keep working on the mindset of 'Why not us?' eventually we will get there. Proud of our young men and women. I can't wait to ride this train with them, I-L-L!"
UP NEXT
The Illini track teams are back in action next Saturday, Jan. 14 for the Wisconsin Midwest Invitational in Chicago.
NOTES
- Olivia Campbell throws fourth best weight throw in her first meet, 17.72m (58-1 3/4).
- Faith Deering now holds the eighth best weight throw with a 15.66m (51-4 1/2).
- Tyler Sudduth improved his personal-best weight throw to 19.53m (64-1), still sixth in school history.
- Azariyah Bryant runs schools eighth best 60m (7.38).
- Tacoria Humphrey is now tied for tenth for the schools best long jump, 6.01m (19-8 3/4).
- Mia Morello vaulted the schools tenth best mark, 3.87m (12-8 1/4).
