Illinois Women’s Track and Field Finishes Second at Big Ten Indoor Championships

Recap

INDIANAPOLIS – The Illinois men's and women's track and field teams finished the Big Ten Indoor Championships on Saturday (March 1) from the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavillion. The women's squad finished in second place with 82 points and the men finished 10th with 29.5.

"Obviously, coming into this weekend I wanted to win it all again," said director of track, field and cross country Petros Kyprianou. "In this new Big Ten, it's like a mini NCAA Championships meet so I'm still proud of the way our women battled and earned second place. The highlights of the weekend were Big Ten Champion Tacoria Humphrey's massive long jump of 6.94m (22-9 1/4), that's the third best mark in the history of the NCAA.'

'The women's high jumpers today going second-third-fourth is about as good as you can ask for. Tyler Sudduth taking silver in the shot put and Viktor Morozov taking bronze in the triple jump were nice additions as well. There were a lot of performances this weekend I was pleased with, but we have a lot of work to do still before nationals in two weeks."

The Illini women taking first and second in consecutive years marks the best two-year stretch at the indoor conference meet they have seen in nearly 30 years when the 1995 and 1996 teams each walked away with the title.

The women's high jump crew was the highlight of the day for Illinois where three entered (Rose Yeboah, Bara Sajdokova, Morgan Smalls) and they finished second, third and fourth, respectively. Yeboah cleared 1.89m (6-2 1/4) to earn silver, Sajdokova cleared 1.86m (6-1 1/4) for bronze and Smalls leaped 1.80m (5-10 3/4) for fourth.

In the men's shot put Tyler Sudduth captured silver throwing the program's second-best mark, 19.73m (64-8 3/4), which ranks eighth in the nation and solidifies his spot to the national meet.

Halle Hill ran the fastest final lap amongst all competitors in the 3000m to pull away with bronze on the program's second-fastest time (9:11.59). Viktor Morozov recorded a 15.81m (51-10 1/2) mark in the triple jump on his second-to-last attempt to claim his bronze medal.

Abria Smith saved the best for last with her 17.87m (58-7 1/2) heave on her final attempt in the shot put which placed her fourth today. It's a school record, but more importantly it moved her up to 11th in the nation punching her ticket to the national meet.

The men's 4x400m team of Jackson Gilbert, Tadeas Placek, Jayon Morrow and Alex Ornelas placed fourth on a time of 3:09.56.

Dewayne Johnson (60mH, 7.88), Asia Thomas (60m, 7.32) and Kam Garrett (high jump, 2.10m [6-10 3/4]) each placed eighth in their events today to make the podium.

PODIUM

Rose Yeboah placed second in the high jump, 1.89m (6-2 1/4).
Tyler Sudduth placed second in the shot put, 19.73m (64-8 3/4).
Halle Hill placed third in the 3000m (9:11.59).
Bara Sajdokova placed third in the high jump, 1.86m (6-1 1/4).
Viktor Morozov placed third in the triple jump, 15.81m (51-10 1/2).
Abria Smith placed fourth in the shot put, 17.87m (58-7 1/2).
Morgan Smalls placed fourth in the high jump, 1.80m (5-10 3/4).
Men's 4x400 team placed fourth: Jackson Gilbert, Tadeas Placek, Jayon Morrow, Alex Ornelas (3:09.56).
Asia Thomas placed eighth in the 60m (7.32).
Dewayne Johnson placed eighth in the 60mH (7.88).
Kam Garrett placed eighth in the high jump, 2.10m (6-10 3/4).

INDIVIDUAL ILLINI POINT TOTALS

WOMEN
1. Tacoria Humphrey – 10
2. Morgan Smalls – 9
3. Sophia Beckmon – 8
3. Rose Yeboah – 8
3. Bara Sajdokova – 8
6. Tori Thomas – 6
7. Abria Smith - 5
8. Mia Morello – 3
8. Darja Sopova – 3
10. Asia Thomas – 1
10. Melissa Wullschleger – 1

MEN
1. Tyler Sudduth – 11
2. Viktor Morozov – 6
3. Cody Johnston – 3
4. Dewayne Johnson – 1
5. Kam Garrett – 0.5

STANDINGS

WOMEN
1. Oregon – 131
2. Illinois – 82
3. USC – 76
4. Iowa – 51
5. Washington – 50
6. Nebraska – 48
7. Penn State – 41
8. Minnesota – 38
9. Michigan State – 32
10. Michigan – 31
10. UCLA – 31
12. Ohio State – 19
12. Purdue – 19
12. Rutgers – 19
15. Wisconsin – 15
16. Indiana – 14
17. Maryland – 5

MEN
1. Oregon – 106
2. USC – 99.5
3. Wisconsin – 83
4. Washington – 67
5. Iowa – 62
5. Nebraska – 62
7. Purdue – 38.5
8. Michigan – 35
9. Indiana – 31
10. Illinois – 29.5
11. UCLA – 28
12. Penn State – 25
13. Rutgers – 13
14. Ohio State – 10.5
15. Michigan State – 9

TOP 10 PROGRAM MARKS

First – Shot Put: Abria Smith, 17.87m (58-7 1/2).
Second – Shot Put: Tyler Sudduth, 19.73m (64-8 3/4).
Second – 3000m: Halle Hill (9:11.59)

NOTES

Full Illini Results

Will Merrick placed 18th in the 3000m (8:08.42).
- Anthony Maida placed 22nd (8:09.88).
Sam Poglitsch placed 34th in the 3000m (9:40.49)
- Kennady Anderson placed 41st (9:51.72).

Heptathlon

Rafael Raap – 11th (4,833)