University of Illinois
Don Kirby Elite Invitational
Men’s 4x400 Relay Team Sprinted Programs Third Best Time
February 11, 2023 | Women's Track & Field, Men's Track & Field
Recap
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The men's and women's Fighting Illini track and field teams wrapped up competition at the Don Kirby Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 11. Seven new or improved top-10 program marks were registered alongside a pair of new personal-best. The men's 4x400 team of senior Jason Thormo, redshirt senior Kashief King, senior Robert Williams and freshman Tadeas Placek ran schools third best time (3:06.77) and placed second overall today.
Senior Jessica McDowell won the 400m dash and improved her school's second-best time to 52.47. Senior Olivia Howell repeated McDowell's feat later in the 800m dash (2:04.03).
Sophomore Tori Thomas placed second in the pole vault and bumped up her program's second-best vault to 4.21m (13-9 3/4). Senior Tyler Sudduth finished second in the shot put, 18.15m (59-6 3/4).
Graduate student Bret Dannis tied himself for third in the 60m hurdles record books with a time of 7.74, he placed second. Sophomore DeVontae Ford tied his program's seventh-best mark (7.84), he placed fourth.
Sophomore Halle Hill clocked a new personal-best in the 800m (2:09.75) and placed third. Senior Aiden Ouimet secured a new personal-best in the 60m hurdles (8.22).
UP NEXT
The Illinois track and field teams are off next week. They return to action on Fri.-Sat. Feb. 24-25 for the Big Ten Indoor Championships in Geneva, Ohio.
NOTES
- Jessica McDowell won 400m and improved her program second best time to 52.47.
- Olivia Howell won the 800m and improved her program second best time to 2:04.03.
- Halle Hill placed third and set a new PB of 2:09.75.
- Tori Thomas placed second in the pole vault and improved her program second best mark to 4.21m (13-9 3/4).
- Men's 4x400 team of Jason Thormo, Kashief King, Robert Williams and Tadeas Placek ran schools third best time (3:06.77), placed second.
- Bret Dannis ran tied the school's third best 60H mark and placed second overall (7.74).
- DeVontae Ford tied his school's seventh best mark in the 60H and placed fourth (7.84).
- Tyler Sudduth took second in shot put, 18.15m (59-6 3/4).
- Aiden Ouimet ran a new PB in the 60H (8.22).
