BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Illinois track and field teams completed the third and final day of the Big Ten Outdoor Championships on Sunday, May 14. Junior Olivia Howell defended her 1,500m B1G title for the second time. Today she ran a 4:20.13 to secure her third straight win. That's not all, she claimed a silver medal in the 5,000m just a couple hours later with the program's third fastest time (16:12.40). In the last lap she passed five runners, three of which were in the last 50 meters. She scored a team high 18 points and claimed first team All-Big Ten honors.
The Illinois women finished in eighth with 52.5 points, their highest finish and point total since the 2013 season when they finished second with 120 points. The men finished in ninth with 49 points. That's their best finish and score since the 2021 season where they placed eighth with 58 points.
Sophomore DeVontae Ford led the way for the Illini men scoring nine points. He earned six from his third place finish in the 400m hurdles on a personal-best time, 50.93. He added the last three points in the 110m hurdles on the school's tenth best time, 13.91.
"This was a very progressive weekend for us," said Director of Track, Field and Cross Country Petros Kyprianou. "We are officially out of the double-digit place wise as a team. With the women's team having the highest finish in the last 10 years and the men in the last two years. It's a testament of this team buying in and the coaching staff doing a fantastic job of developing these athletes. If you compare the indoor and outdoor finishes, I am very happy where we are headed. We had some injuries of key folks who aren't here."
Sophomore Tori Thomas climbed her way to second in the pole vault and improved her school's second best mark to 4.36m (14-3 1/2). She added eight points to the Illini women's total and earned second team All-Big Ten honors.
The men's 4x400m relay team of: junior Jason Thormo, redshirt senior Kashief King, freshman Tadeas Placek and junior Robert Williams placed second (3:06.79). All four were named to second team All-Big Ten honors.
"I'm excited about the way they responded to the challenge, the hard work and everything we had for them. Clearly the highlights are everyone who medaled and all our scorers. For me, I had a hard time remembering all who scored which is a very good thing."
Junior Tyler Sudduth placed fourth in the discus to score five points, 56.45m (185-2). Sophomore Tacoria Humphrey tied for fourth in the high jump to score four and a half points, 1.78m (5-10).
Williams also placed fifth in the 400m hurdles to score four points (51.26). Senior Tracy Towns scored four points with her fifth place finish in the 800m (2:07.31).
A pair of true freshmen picked up some points for the Illini today. Mia Morello placed fifth to score four points in the pole vault and climbed up to fourth in the Illini record book, 4.16m (13-7 3/4). Viktor Morozov placed sixth in the triple jump to capture three points, 15.51m (50-10 3/4).
"We are committed to this team and we are very happy where we are headed. I just can't wait until next year to get some of these recruits in to join this powerful and developing crew."
ILLINI SCORERS
- Olivia Howell first in 1,500m (4:20.13) and second in 5,000m (16.12.40) – 18 points.
- Tacoria Humphrey second in long jump, 6.32m (20-9) and fourth in high jump, 1.78m (5-10) – 12.5 points.
- DeVontae Ford third in 400mH (50.93) and sixth in 110mH (13.91) – 9 points.
- 4x400m second: Jason Thormo, Kashief King, Tadeas Placek, Robert Williams (3:06.79) – 8 points.
- Tori Thomas second in pole vault, 4.36m (14-3 1/2) – 8 points.
- Tyler Sudduth fourth in discus, 56.45m (185-2) – 5 points.
- Bret Dannis fifth in 110mH (13.85) – 5 points.
- Robert Williams fifth in 400mH (51.26) – 4 points.
- Tracy Towns fifth in 800m (2:07.31) – 4 points.
- Mia Morello fifth in pole vault 4.16m (13-7 3/4) – 4 points.
- Viktor Morozov sixth in triple jump, 15.51m (50-10 3/4) – 3 points.
TEAM SCORES (MEN):
1. Nebraska – 151
2. Minnesota – 122
3. Iowa – 120
4. Wisconsin – 72
5. Michigan – 56
6. Penn State – 54
7. Indiana – 52
8. Michigan State – 51
9. Illinois – 49
10. Ohio State – 37
11. Rutgers – 29
12. Purdue – 22
13. Maryland - 4
TEAM SCORES (WOMEN):
1. Michigan – 139
2. Ohio State – 123
3. Nebraska – 112
4. Iowa – 76
5. Penn State – 63
6. Wisconsin – 56.5
7. Minnesota – 53
8. Illinois – 52.5
9. Indiana – 38.5
10. Rutgers – 37
11. Michigan State – 34
12. Purdue – 27.5
13. Maryland – 7
NOTES
- Olivia Howell won 1,500m (4:20.13), named first team All-B1G.
- She placed second in the 5,000m (16:12.40), new PB and third in school history.
- Tori Thomas placed second in the pole vault, 4.36m (14-3 1/2), new PB and second in school history. Named second team All-B1G.
- Mia Morello placed fifth, 4.16m (13-7 3/4), new PB and fourth in school history.
- Kelsey Rothas placed ninth, 3.96m (12-11 3/4).
- The men's 4x400m team of: Jason Thormo, Kashief King, Tadeas Placek and Robert Williams placed second (3:06.79).
- All four named second team All-B1G.
- DeVontae Ford placed third in the 400mH (50.93), new PB.
- Ford placed sixth in the 110mH (13.91), new PB and tenth in school history.
- Tyler Sudduth placed fourth in the discus, 56.45m (185-2).
- Tacoria Humphrey placed fourth in high jump, 1.78m (5-10).
- Named second team All-B1G for long jump performance.
- Robert Williams placed fifth in the 400mH (51.26).
- Bret Dannis placed fifth in the 110mH (13.85).
- Tracy Towns placed fifth in the 800m (2:07.31).
- Viktor Morozov placed sixth in the triple jump, 15.51m (50-10 3/4).
- Women's 4x400m team of: Danni Stoughton, Ashley Oliver, Madison Hardamon, Azariyah Bryant placed tenth (3:44.40).
- Colin Yandel placed eleventh in the 1,500m (3:48.57).
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini track and field teams are back in action Wed.-Sat. May 24-27 for the NCAA Regionals in Sacramento, Calif.
