University of Illinois
Illini Challenge
Illinois Track and Field Returns Home for Illini Challenge
January 23, 2024 | Women's Track & Field, Men's Track & Field
Preview
| Illini Challenge | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Friday - Saturday, January 26-27 |
| Location: | UI Armory // Champaign, Ill. |
| Meet Information: | Watch | Live Results | Meet Schedule |
| Shop: | Fighting Illini Store |
| Social Media: | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men's and women track and field teams are set for their second and final home meet of the indoor season, the Illini Challenge, this weekend on Jan. 26-27. The women's team was nationally ranked No. 1 by USTFCCCA for the first time ever in program history; their previous high was No. 6 back in 1996. The men's team slotted in at No. 10, which is their highest since 1995.
Senior Tyler Sudduth broke the school record in the weight throw last weekend and now owns the top mark nationwide, 23.14m (75-11).
Graduate student Amber Simpson has broken the weight throw school record in all three of her appearances. She bested it this past weekend by three centimeters, 21.94m (71-10 3/4), and remains eighth in the nation.
Junior Bara Sajdokova didn't break the high jump school record, but she did match it at 1.87m (6-1 1/2), which ranks sixth in the nation. She became the first Illini woman to match this mark in 25 years since Stacy Ann Grant first set it back in 1999.
The last time junior Tori Thomas was in the UI Armory, she broke the facility record with the nation's second-best mark 4.42m (14-6). Junior Kam Garrett's 2.18m (7-1 3/4) he leaped in the Armory at the first meet is still ninth in the country.
NATIONAL TOP-10 ATHLETES
WOMEN
#2 Darja Sopova – triple jump, 13.56m (44-6)*
#2 Tori Thomas – pole vault, 4.42m (14-6)
#4 Sophia Beckmon – long jump, 6.49m (21-3 1/2)*
#5 Jessica McDowell – 400m (52.57)
#6 Bara Sajdokova – high jump, 1.87m (6-1 1/2)
#7 Tacoria Humphrey – long jump, 6.42m (21-0 3/4)
#8 Elizabeth Ndudi – long jump, 6.40m (21-0)
#8 Amber Simpson – weight throw, 21.91m (71-10 3/4)*
#9 Asia Thomas – 200m (23.45)
MEN
#1 // #9 Tyler Sudduth – weight throw, 23.14m (75-11)* // shot put, 18.77m (61-7)
#9 Kam Garrett – high jump, 2.18m (7-1 3/4)
* = School Record
