Full Results
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini men's and women's track and field squads completed their first meet of the 2024 season on Saturday, Jan. 6, from the UI Armory. 509 fans attended the Illini Open and witnessed graduate student Amber Simpson shatter the weight throw program record with a 20.31m (66-7 3/4 ft.) heave, which placed her third in today's competition. The previous record from Gia Lewis stood since 2002 (18.91m (62-0 1/2. ft.)).
"This meet is what we expected it to be. A lot of anticipation coming into this weekend, and we have a lot of youngsters," said director of track and field/cross country Petros Kyprianou. "I'd say about 85% of the team did good, and 15% kind of struggled with a few things. It's either technical or issues that can be controlled. We're getting the rust off our wheels and trying to build off it, but overall, this was a good showing. Some of the highlights were Amber Simpson in the weight throw, Tori Thomas in the pole vault, Kam Garrett in the high jump, and the women in the 60m all competing hard.
"There are a lot of positives but also, we have a lot of work we need to do being the first meet of the year. Now, we shift our focus to Vanderbilt, where that will be our real opener. A lot of our top athletes competed in off events like Jessica McDowell in the 600m instead of the 400m, Elizabeth Ndudi and Sophia Beckmon in the 60m instead of the long jump. Some aches and pains here and there, but we're going to try to overcome and show up in Nashville to build off the good things that happened today."
TOP-10 PROGRAM MARKS
Junior Tori Thomas won the pole vault today with a mark that sits second in the Illinois record book, second in the entire country and a new UI Armory record at 4.42m (14-6). Sophomore Mia Morello is third in the Illini pole vault record book with her mark of 4.22m (13-10). Graduate student Leah Pasqualetti made her debut in the Orange and Blue and vaulted the program's seventh-best mark 3.97m (13-0).
Freshman Jordan Koskondy made her debut today in the weight throw and put herself second on the school leaderboard with a 19.51m (64-0 1/4) toss. Sophomore Faith Deering moved herself up to eighth in the weight throw record book with a mark of 17.23m (56-6 1/2).
Junior Kam Garrett emerged victorious in the high jump with the third-best height clearance in the nation and in Illinois history at 2.18m (7-1 3/4). Freshman Asia Thomas sprinted her way to a win in the 60m with the school's second-fastest time (7.28). Sophomore Azariyah Bryant moved up to seventh in school history (7.34) and freshman Sophia Beckmon is tenth (7.38).
Junior Daniel Mboyo won the long jump with a 7.58m (24-10 1/2) jump that ranks ninth on the Illini all-time list and currently fourth in the country. Freshman Llyric Driscoll won the women's long jump, 6.01m (19-9), and etched her name into the tenth spot in the record books.
UP NEXT
The Illinois track and field teams are back in next week, Fri.-Sat., Jan. 12-13, for the Commodore Challenge at Vanderbilt.
NOTES
Event Winners and Top-10 Program Marks
- Amber Simpson, third, broke the school record in the weight throw, 20.31m (66-7 3/4).
- Jordan Koskondy, fourth, recorded the program's second-best mark, 19.51m (64-0 1/4).
- Faith Deering, fifth, owns the program's eighth-best mark, 17.23m (56-6 1/2).
- Daniel Mboyo won the long jump with the program's ninth-best mark, 7.58m (24-10 1/2). Currently ranks fourth in the nation.
- Kam Garrett won the high jump with the school's third-best mark, 2.18m (7-1 3/4).
- Asia Thomas won the 60m dash with the program's second-best time (7.28).
- Tyler Sudduth won the weight throw, 21.77m (71-5 1/4), and the shot put, 18.77m (61-7).
- Lydia Malecek won the mile (5:03.72).
- Llyric Driscoll won the long jump with the program's tenth-best mark 6.01m (19-9).
- Jessica McDowell won the 600m (1:33.46).
- Tadeas Placek won the 600m with a new PB (1:18.60).
- Rose Yeboah (unatt.) won the high jump, 1.85m (6-0 3/4).
- Tori Thomas won the pole vault with the program's second-best mark, 4.42m (14-6). Currently second in the nation.
- Mia Morello placed second and is third in the record book, 4.22m (13-10).
- Leah Pasqualetti placed third and is seventh in the record book, 3.97m (13-0 1/4).
Full Illini Results
- Aiden Ouimet placed second in the pole vault with a new PB, 4.88m (16-0), and third in the 60mH with a new PB (8.14).
- Phethisang Makhethe (unatt.) placed second in the weight throw, 20.51m (67-3.50).
- Jackson Marseille placed second in the high jump, 2.08m (6-9 3/4), cleared on his first attempt.
- Alex Babbington placed third, 2.08m (6-9 3/4), cleared on his final attempt.
- CJ Shoaf placed fourth, 2.03m (6-7 3/4).
- Javaris Ambrose placed second in the weight throw, 18.17m (59-7 1/2).
- Will Rezny placed third with a new PB, 17.92m (58-9 1/2).
- Alex Sohn placed fourth, 16.71m (54-10).
- Isaac Rice placed second in the 60m with a new PB (6.91).
- Bara Sajdokova placed second in the high jump, 1.75m (5-8 3/4).
- Abby Lynch placed second in the mile (5:05.11).
- Ashley Oliver placed second in the 600m (1:36.97)
- Jackson Gilbert placed second in the 600m (1:24.47).
- Lydia Malecek placed second in the 800m (2:18.67).
- Will Rezny placed second in the shot put, 17.24m (56-6 3/4).
- Llyric Driscoll placed second in the triple jump, 11.65m (38-2 3/4).
- Jessica McDowell placed fourth in the 60m with a new PB (7.41).
- Michail Rose placed fourth in the 60mH (8.25).
