CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini's #11 men's and #5 women's track and field programs are set for their first meet of February with the Meyo Invitational on Feb. 2-3 in South Bend, Ind.
Senior combined-events athlete Aiden Ouimet shattered the program's heptathlon record with 5,985 points. He set four new personal bests in the 60m (6.97), long jump (7.44m (24-5)), high jump (2.02m (6-7 1/2)) and 1000m (2:42.44). His mark currently ranks first in the nation with a converted score of 6,010 points for the 200m flat track.
Freshman Rose Yeboah topped the 25-year-old school high jump record last week. She's fifth in the nation and second among all freshman with her 1.88m (6-2) clearance. Sophomore Mia Morello set a new personal-best pole vault at 4.27m (14-0).
Senior Jack Roberts will see his first action of the indoor season on the track this weekend. He will be competing in both the 3000m and 5000m races. Roberts led the men's cross country team all season as the lone NCAA Cross Country Championships qualifier. He collected Second-Team All-Big Ten honors at the Big Ten Championships and placed 10th at the NCAA Midwest Regionals (30:27.6) to qualify for the national meet.
NATIONAL TOP-10 ATHLETES
WOMEN
#3 Darja Sopova – triple jump, 13.56m (44-6) *
#3 Tori Thomas – pole vault, 4.42m (14-6)
#5 Sophia Beckmon – long jump, 6.49m (21-3 1/2) *
#5 Jessica McDowell – 400m (52.57)
#5 Rose Yeboah – high jump, 1.88m (6-2) *
#7 Bara Sajdokova – high jump, 1.87m (6-1 1/2)
#8 Tacoria Humphrey – long jump, 6.42m (21-0 3/4)
#9 Elizabeth Ndudi – long jump, 6.40m (21-0)
#9 Amber Simpson – weight throw, 21.91m (71-10 3/4) *
MEN
#1 Tyler Sudduth – weight throw, 23.14m (75-11) *
#1 Aiden Ouimet – heptathlon, 5,985 points *
#9 Kam Garrett – high jump, 2.18m (7-1 3/4)
* Denotes school record.
