University of Illinois
NCAA West Preliminaries
Babbington and Williams Both Punch Their Ticket to the NCAA Championships
May 26, 2023 | Women's Track & Field, Men's Track & Field
Recap
Full Results
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Illinois men's track and field team completed their NCAA West Preliminaries on Friday, May 26. The women will finish out their competition tomorrow, May 27. Senior Alex Babbington and junior Robert Williams both punched their tickets to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas tonight.
Babbington did so in the high jump with the program's fourth-highest clearance, 2.14m (7-0 1/4). He's the first Illini high jumper to make it to Nationals since Jonathan Wells did a couple of years ago in 2021. Williams is heading to Nationals in the 400mH (50.53) and becomes the first Illini to qualify in that event in five years (David Kendziera 2018).
DeVontae Ford recorded a new personal-best in the 400mH (50.61), but just narrowly missed qualifying as he finished thirteenth. He placed 19th in the 110mH (13.95).
The 4x400m relay team of: freshman Tadeas Placek, redshirt senior Kashief King, Ford and junior Robert Williams placed 17th (3:07.40). Senior Will O'Brien finished 22nd in the 1500m (3:52.16). Graduate student Bret Dannis finished 22nd in the 110mH as well (14.00).
Junior Tyler Sudduth threw 54.64m (179-3) in the discus and finished in 29th place. Sophomore CJ Shoaf finished 36th in the high jump, 2.04m (6-8 1/4). Freshman Viktor Morozov placed 42nd in the triple jump, 14.44m (47-4 1/2).
NOTES
- Alex Babbington placed tenth in the high jump and qualified with a 2.14m (7-0 1/4). New personal-best, fourth-best in school history, first Illini qualifier in two years (Jonathan Wells 2021).
- CJ Shoaf finished 36th, 2.04m (6-8 1/4).
- Robert Williams placed tenth in the 400mH (50.53) and qualified for Nationals.
- DeVontae Ford placed thirteenth with a new PB (50.61).
- The men's 4x400m relay team of: Tadeas Placek, Kashief King, DeVontae Ford and Robert Williams placed 17th (3:07.40).
- DeVontae Ford placed 19th in the 110mH (13.95).
- Bret Dannis placed 22nd (14.00).
- Will O'Brien placed 22nd in the 1500m (3:52.16).
- Tyler Sudduth placed 29th in the discus, 54.64m (179-3).
- Viktor Morozov placed 42nd in the triple jump, 14.44m (47-4 1/2).
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini women's team is set to complete their NCAA West Preliminaries Saturday, May 27. Field events are set to begin at 3 p.m. and track events will start at 7 p.m. CT, streaming is available at ESPN+.
