CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men's and No. 11 women's track and field squads gear up for the final meet of the season, the NCAA Outdoor Championships, on June 5-8 from Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
A SWEET SIXTEEN
16 athletes will represent the Orange and Blue across 12 events at the national meet, the most the program has seen since the 2008 squad sent 17 in 12 events.
The six Illini men are the most individual qualifiers (not including relays) on the men's team in 36 years, since the 1988 squad also sent six individuals. Some highlights from this year's crew include Tyler Sudduth, who is now the first Illini man this century to qualify in the shot put. Jeff Teach in 1995 was the last one to qualify prior to Sudduth.
Viktor Morozov became the first to qualify in the triple jump since Nick Brown did so 17 years ago in 2007. Cody Johnston is the first to qualify in the pole vault in 15 years, as Andrew Zollner was the last one in 2009.
The women's 10 qualifiers are the most in 15 years since the 2009 season. Amber Simpson highlights this crew with the oldest qualification. Illinois has not sent a women's hammer thrower to the national meet in 21 years;Â Marie Hilmersson was the last to qualify in 2003. Darja Sopova is the first to qualify in the triple jump since Yvonee Mensah in 2007.
Jessica McDowell is the lone track qualifier on the women's side in the 400m, becoming the first to qualify since Olympic medalist Ashley Spencer back in 2013. Bara Sajdokova and Rose Yeboah are the first to make it in the high jump since Kandie Block-Jones in 2016. The 4x100m relay squad is also going for the first time since 2016.
Excluding relays, the 13 individuals are the most men and women heading to the NCAA Outdoor Championships since 2007.
NATIONAL-BOUND ILLINI (LAST ILLINOISÂ QUALIFIER)
MEN
Kam Garrett – High Jump (Alex Babbington, 2023)
Cody Johnston – Pole Vault (Andrew Zollner, 2009)
Viktor Morozov – Triple Jump (Nick Brown, 2007)
Aiden Ouimet – Decathlon (Aiden Ouimet, 2023)
Tyler Sudduth – Shot Put (Jeff Teach, 1995)
Robert Williams – 400m Hurdles (Robert Williams, 2023)
WOMEN
Asia Thomas, Sophia Beckmon, Tacoria Humphrey, Jessica McDowell – 4x100m (Seymour, Rogers, Stewart, Taylor; 2016)
Jessica McDowell – 400m (Ashley Spencer, 2013)
Mia Morello – Pole Vault (Tori Thomas, 2023)
Bara Sajdokova – High Jump (Kandie Bloch-Jones, 2016)
Amber Simpson – Hammer Throw (Marie Hilmersson, 2003)
Darja Sopova – Triple Jump (Yvonne Mensah, 2007)
Tori Thomas – Pole Vault (Tori Thomas, 2023)
Rose Yeboah – High Jump (Kandie Bloch-Jones, 2016)
NATIONAL QUALIFIERS SCHEDULE (TIMES CT)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5 (MEN)
2:30 PM – Aiden Ouimet, decathlon 100m
3:10 PM – Aiden Ouimet, decathlon long jump
4:25 PM – Aiden Ouimet, decathlon shot put
5:40 PM – Aiden Ouimet, decathlon high jump
7:00 PM – Cody Johnston, pole vault
8:30 PM – Robert Williams, 400mH
8:40 PM – Tyler Sudduth, shot put
8:56 PM – Aiden Ouimet, decathlon 400m
THURSDAY, JUNE 6 (WOMEN, DECATHLON)
1:30 PM – Aiden Ouimet, decathlon 110mH
2:20 PM – Aiden Ouimet, decathlon discus
3:30 PM – Aiden Ouimet, decathlon pole vault
5:00 PM – Amber Simpson, hammer throw
6:00 PM – Aiden Ouimet, decathlon javelin
7:32 PM – 4x100m relay
8:00 PM – Mia Morello and Tori Thomas, pole vault
9:00 PM – Jessica McDowell, 400m
9:56 PM – Aiden Ouimet, decathlon 1500m
FRIDAY, JUNE 7 (MEN)
7:30 PM – Kam Garrett, high jump
8:20 PM – Viktor Morozov, triple jump
9:27 PM – Robert Williams, 400mH (if he advances from semifinals)
SATURDAY, JUNE 8 (WOMEN)
4 PM – Bara Sajdokova and Rose Yeboah, high jump
4:32 PM – 4x100m relay (if they advance from semifinals)
4:50 PM – Darja Sopova, triple jump
5:32 PM – Jessica McDowell, 400m (if she advances from semifinals)
BY THE NUMBERS
2024 Outdoor U.S. Olympic Standards: 1
2024 Outdoor Big Ten Records: 2
2024 Outdoor School Records: 12
2024 Outdoor Program Top-10 Marks: 60
WOMEN'S NATIONAL TOP-10 MARKS
#2 long jump – Sophia Beckmon, 6.86m (22-6 1/4) +^*
#2 hammer throw – Amber Simpson, 70.21m (230-4) ^*
#4 high jump – Bara Sajdokova, 1.91m (6-3 1/4) *
#4 high jump – Rose Yeboah, 1.91m (6-3 1/4) *
#4 long jump – Tacoria Humphrey, 6.81m (22-4 1/4)
#5 pole vault – Tori Thomas, 4.52m (14-10) *
#7 long jump – Elizabeth Ndudi, 6.68m (21-11)
#9 long jump – Darja Sopova, 6.64m (21-9 1/4)
#9 triple jump – Darja Sopova, 13.37m (43-10 1/2)*
MEN'S NATIONAL TOP-10 MARKS
#8 decathlon – Aiden Ouimet, 7,794 points *
#8 shot put – Tyler Sudduth, 19.85m (65-1 1/2)
#9 pole vault – Cody Johnston, 5.60m (18-4 1/2)
#10 high jump – Kam Garrett, 2.20m (7-2 1/2)
+ I Olympic Standard
^ I Big Ten Record
* I School Record
