Smith, Thomas Each Break School Records on Final Day of New Mexico Collegiate Classic

Results (New Mexico) // Results (Boston)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. / BOSTON– The Illinois No. 4 women's and No. 9 men's track and field teams completed the New Mexico Collegiate Classic from the Albuquerque Convention Center and the Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Invitational from the Track & Tennis Center on Saturday (Feb. 8). Asia Thomas and Abria Smith both top the program leaderboards in the 60m and shot put, respectively.

FROM ALBUQUERQUE

Thomas sprinted to a 7.24 60m time to take down Benita Kelley's 29-year-old school record (7.27) which was originally set in 1996. It sits as the 15th-fastest 60m in the nation (7.26 after the conversion for altitude) which would qualify her to the NCAA Indoor Championships if the season ended today (top-16 qualify). She placed second in today's competition.

Smith threw a 17.27m (56-8) shot put to topple Olympian Aja Evans' 15-year-old school record, 17.08m (56-0 1/2), that was set in 2010. Her mark also currently holds the 16th and final qualification spot in the nation, she placed third in competition today.

Jackson Gilbert etched his name into the 400m program record book clocking the eight-fastest time (46.67) in his 11th-place finish. Cody Johnston picked up the event win in the pole vault, clearing 5.46m (17-11).

FROM BOSTON

Halle Hill ran the program's second-fastest mile in her ninth-place finish (4:34.67) at the Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Invitational. Nicolas Dovalovsky recorded the 10th-fastest 800m in Illinois history (1:49.24) in his 10th-place finish.

UP NEXT

The Orange and Blue track and field crews return to action on Fri.-Sat. (Feb. 14-15) for the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.  

NOTES

Event Winners and Top-10 Program Marks

• Asia Thomas placed second in the 60m with a new school record (7.24).
  • Azariyah Bryant placed 18th (7.40).
• Abria Smith placed third in the shot put with a new school record, 17.27m (56-8).
• Halle Hill placed ninth in the mile with the program's second-fastest time (4:34.67).
  • Sam Poglitsch placed 14th (4:45.40).
  • Kennady Anderson placed 15th (4:47.32).
• Jackson Gilbert placed 11th in the 400m with the program's eighth-fastest time (46.67).
• Nicolas Dovalovsky placed 10th in the 800m on the program's 10th-fastest time (1:49.24).
  • Trey Sato placed 13th (1:49.62).
• Cody Johnston won the pole vault, 5.46m (17-11).

Full Illini Results

• Viktor Morozov placed second in the triple jump, 15.66m (51-4 1/2).
• Darja Sopova placed fourth in the triple jump, 13.08m (42-11).
• Tyler Sudduth placed fifth in the shot put, 18.31m (60-1).
  • Alex Sohn placed 14th , 17.28m (56-8 1/2).
• The men's 4x400m relay team of Jackson Gilbert, Tadeas Placek, Jayon Morrow and Dewayne Johnson placed seventh (3:10.96).
• Dewayne Johnson placed 10th in the 60mH (7.87).
• Llyric Driscoll placed 18th in the 60mH (8.53).
  • Melissa Wullschleger placed 30th (8.95).
  • Lucie Kienast placed 31st (8.99).
• Will Merrick placed 28th in the mile (4:01.70).
  • Brady Masters placed 41st (4:08.04).