Full Results
GENEVA, Ohio – The Illinois men's and women's track and field teams finished the first day of the Big Ten Indoor Championships on Friday (Feb. 23). Senior Tyler Sudduth became a Big Ten Champion in today's weight throw competition with a mark of 22.77m (74-8 1/2).
He's the first Illini weight throw Big Ten Champion since Manning Plater in 2021; from start to finish Sudduth never fell from the top spot.
The women's team is currently in third place with 30 points and the men's team resides in sixth with 17.5 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Four Illini women entered the long jump competition and all four of them scored in the finals combining for 17 team points. Freshman Elizabeth Ndudi led the way with a silver medal, 6.31m (20-8 1/2), to score eight points. Junior Darja Sopova placed fourth to score five points, 6.12m (20-1). Freshman Sophia Beckmon placed sixth (6.10m (20-0 1/4), three points) and junior Tacoria Humphrey rounded out the scorers in eighth (6.05m (19-0 1/4), one point).
Three Illinois women scored in the pole vault for 12 points, led by junior Tori Thomas who placed third (4.40m (14-5 1/4), six points). Sophomore Mia Morello improved her program's third-best mark to 4.35m (14-3 1/4), she scored five points. Graduate student Leah Pasqualetti vaulted up to fourth in the program record book, 4.15m (13-7 1/4), she placed eighth to score one point.
The Orange and Blue women sprinters had a successful day of qualifying led by junior Jessica McDowell. She registered the program's second-fastest 400m (52.10) and fifth-fastest (23.50) in her preliminary wins. Freshman Asia Thomas is moving on to the finals in both the 60m (7.31) and 200m (23.65). Sophomore Azariyah Bryant followed suit and made the finals in the 60m (7.41) and 200m (23.84).
Senior Aiden Ouimet completed a successful first half of his heptathlon with three new personal-bests and two event wins. He currently leads the pack with 3,403 points. He started his day by sprinting to the 60m gold with a new best time (6.88). He followed that up with the program's ninth-best long jump (7.61m (24-11 3/4)) in his win. His final personal best came in the shot put where he threw 14.34m (47-0 3/4) and finished the day with a 1.96m (6-5) in the high jump.
Freshman Cody Johnston tied for fourth in the men's pole vault clearing 5.13m (16-10), he scored four and a half points. Graduate student Amber Simpson placed eighth in the woman's weight throw to score one point, 20.12m (66-0 1/4).
Sophomore Tadeas Placek placed fourth in the 600m prelims with the program's second-fastest time (1:16.93) to qualify for tomorrow's finals. Senior Will Merrick placed fifth in the mile prelims with a time of 4:07.29 to qualify to the finals.
TEAM SCORES
MEN
1. Wisconsin – 40
2. Nebraska – 32
3. Indiana – 26.33
4. Rutgers – 21
5. Michigan – 19
6. Illinois – 17.5
7. Michigan State – 11
8. Penn State – 10.5
9. Iowa – 9
10. Ohio State – 8.33
11. Purdue – 0.33
WOMEN
1. Penn State – 38
1. Wisconsin – 38
3. Illinois – 30
4. Rutgers – 26
5. Minnesota – 24
6. Michigan State – 20
7. Indiana – 16
8. Michigan – 12
9. Purdue – 11
10. Iowa – 9
11. Ohio State – 7
12. Nebraska – 3
13. Maryland – 0
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini track and field squads are back in action tomorrow (Feb. 24) for the final day of the Big Ten Championships. The heptathlon resumes at 10 a.m., field events start at 11 a.m. and track events begin at 12:20 p.m. CT.
NOTES
Event Champions, Finals Qualifiers and Scorers
- Tyler Sudduth won the weight throw, 22.77m (74-8 1/2), scored ten points.
- Elizabeth Ndudi placed second in the long jump, 6.31m (20-8 1/2), scored eight points.
- Tori Thomas placed third in the pole vault, 4.40m (14-5 1/4), scored six points.
- Mia Morello placed fourth with the program's third-best mark, 4.35m (14-3 1/4), scored five points.
- Leah Pasqualetti placed eighth with the program's fourth-best mark, 4.15m (13-7 1/4), scored one point.
- Jessica McDowell won the 400m prelims with the program's second-fastest time (52.10) and the 200m prelims with program's fifth-fastest time (23.50), qualified for both finals.
- Asia Thomas placed second in the 60m (7.31) and 200m (23.65), qualified for both finals.
- Azariyah Bryant placed fifth in the 200m (23.84) and ninth in the 60m (7.41), qualified for both finals.
- Cody Johnston tied for fourth in the pole vault, 5.13m (16-10), scored four and a half points.
- The men's DMR team of Nicolas Dovalovsky, Robert Williams, Will Merrick and Jack Roberts placed sixth (9:46.63)
- Amber Simpson placed eighth in the weight throw, 20.12m (66-0 1/4), scored one point.
- Tadeas Placek placed fourth in the 600m prelims with the program's second-fastest time (1:16.93), qualified for finals.
- Will Merrick placed fifth in the mile prelims (4:07.29), qualified for finals.
Top-10 Program Marks
Second – 400m: Jessica McDowell, 52.10
Second – 600m: Tadeas Placek, 1:16.93
Third – pole vault: Mia Morello, 4.35m (14-3 1/4)
Fourth – pole vault: Leah Pasqualetti, 4.15m (13-7 1/4)
Fifth – 200m: Jessica McDowell, 23.50
Ninth – long jump: Aiden Ouimet, 7.61m (24-11 3/4)
Combined Events
Aiden Ouimet – First (3,403 points)
- Won the 60m dash with a new PB (6.88).
- Won the long jump with program's ninth-best mark, 7.61m (24-11 3/4).
- Placed sixth in the shot put with a new PB, 14.34m (47-0 3/4).
- Placed third in the high jump, 1.96m (6-5).
Full Illini Results
