Full Results
BOSTON – The Fighting Illini men's and women's track and field teams finished the second day of the NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday (March 8). Junior Tori Thomas and freshman Elizabeth Ndudi both stood on the podium as First-Team All-Americans.
Thomas earned All-American status in the pole vault when she placed sixth on a clearance of 4.40m (14-5 1/4). She's the first Illini woman All-American in the pole vault since school-record holder Stephanie Richartz placed third in 2015 with the record 4.45m (14-7 1/2). Thomas attempted the 4.45m mark after clearing 4.40m, but just narrowly missed getting over it. She scored two and a half team points in her tie for sixth place.
Ndudi became an All-American in the long jump when she placed seventh on a 6.35m (20-10) leap. She's the first Illini woman to collect All-America honors in the long jump since Yvonne Mensah did so in 2007. Ndudi achieved this mark on her third attempt to elevate her into the final round and score two team points.
The last time the women's team had multiple All-Americans at the NCAA Indoor Championships was the 2013 squad that saw four individuals take home the honor. They sit in 20th place after day two with four and a half points.
Senior Aiden Ouimet completed the first part of his heptathlon on Friday and he currently resides in fourth place with 3,315 points. He began the day by sprinting seven seconds flat (7.00) in the 60m dash to take sixth place and earn 882 points. He followed that up with his highest finish of the day (fourth place) in the long jump, leaping 7.46m (24-5 3/4) to rake in 925 points (1,807).
Ouimet went on to throw over 14 meters in the shot put (14.06m (46-1 1/2)) to place ninth and collect 732 points (2,539). He closed out the day with an eighth-place finish in the high jump, clearing 1.97m (6-5 1/2) and adding 776 points to his total (3,315).
Junior Jessica McDowell placed 10th in the 400m semifinals (52.73) and missed advancing to the finals by .23 seconds. Junior Tacoria Humphrey placed 13th in the long jump with a 6.20m (20-4 1/2) reading and freshman Sophia Beckmon placed 16th, with a mark of 6.02m (19-9).
UP NEXT
The Orange and Blue track and field squads are back in action for the final day of the NCAA Indoor Championships tomorrow (March 9). Senior Aiden Ouimet starts the final half of his heptathlon at 9:30 a.m. CT. The high jump crew of juniors Kam Garrett, Bara Sajdokova and redshirt junior Rose Yeboah start at noon CT. Junior Darja Sopova closes out the Championships in the triple jump at 5:30 p.m. CT. Fans can watch on ESPN+ and follow along with live results.
