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University of Illinois Athletics

Olivia Howell B1G Outdoor Champs 5.12.23

Women's Track & Field

Howell Advances to Third Straight 1500m National Finals

Recap

Women's Track & Field

Howell Advances to Third Straight 1500m National Finals

Recap

Full Results
AUSTIN, Texas – Three Illini wrapped up day two competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Thursday, June 8. Junior Olivia Howell led the way by qualifying for her third straight 1500m national finals. She aims to become the first Illini in 21 years to win a NCAA title both indoors and outdoors (Perdita Felicien, 60mH and 100mH, 2002).  

Howell earned the automatic qualifying spot when she placed second in her heat (4:18.24). 12 athletes advanced to the national finals, the top-8 from Saturday's race (8:12 p.m. CT, ESPN2) earn All-American status.

Junior Aiden Ouimet finished out his decathlon today and placed 16th with 7,468 points. He vaulted a season-best 4.71m (15-5 1/2) to place tenth in the pole vault and earn 822 points.

A storied season for Ouimet comes to a close. The former walk-on earned himself a scholarship with his performances at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships where he became the first ever Illinois decathlete to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He broke his own school record and earned a bronze medal with 7,679 points that was 19th in the country.

Sophomore Tori Thomas placed 16th in the pole vault, 4.00m (13-1 1/2). Thomas closed out a sophomore campaign that saw her climb up to second on the program leaderboard, 4.36m (14-3 1/2). With the mark she also earned a silver medal at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships and scored eight points.

NOTES

  • Olivia Howell advanced to the National finals in the 1500m (4:18.24), placed second in her heat.
  • Tori Thomas placed 16th in the pole vault, 4.00m (13-1 1/2).

Decathlon – Aiden Ouimet 16th (7,468 points)

  • Placed seventh in the javelin, 55.41m (181-9).
  • Placed 10th in the pole vault, 4.71m (15-5 1/2), season-best.
  • Placed 12th in the 1500m (4:44.23).
  • Placed 14th in the 110mH (14.95).
  • Placed 15th in the discus, 39.78m (130-6).

UP NEXT

Senior Alex Babbington is set to compete in the high jump finals that start at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tune in to ESPN2 to watch the action and follow along with live stats here.

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Players Mentioned

Alex Babbington

Alex Babbington

Jumps
Senior
Aiden Ouimet

Aiden Ouimet

Multi-Event
Junior
Olivia Howell

Olivia Howell

Distance
Junior
Tori Thomas

Tori Thomas

Pole Vault
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Alex Babbington

Alex Babbington

Senior
Jumps
Aiden Ouimet

Aiden Ouimet

Junior
Multi-Event
Olivia Howell

Olivia Howell

Junior
Distance
Tori Thomas

Tori Thomas

Sophomore
Pole Vault