
Smith Shatters 17-Year-Old Shot Put School Record on Final Day of Pepsi Florida Relays
April 5, 2025 | Women's Track & Field, Men's Track & Field
Recap
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Illinois men's and women's track and field team finished the Pepsi Florida Relays on Saturday (April 5). Abria Smith shattered the program's 17-year-old shot put record with her 17.58m (57-8 1/4) toss which earned her second in today's competition.
Smith's mark also ranks as the seventh best in the nation for the 2025 season and knocked off the previous record that was set by Olympic Medalist Aja Evans in 2008, 17.03m (55-10 1/2).
Kam Garrett took second in the high jump today on the nation's fourth-best leap, 2.20m (7-2 1/2) while Dewayne Johnson clocked the program's 10th-fastest 110mH time in his 10th-place finish (13.87). Will Rezny took home silver in the men's collegiate section shot put competition throwing 17.54m (57-6 1/2).
UP NEXT
The Orange and Blue track and field crews return to action next week (April 11-12) for the 44 Farms Invitational in College Station, Texas.
NOTES
Event Winners and Top-10 Program Marks
- Abria Smith placed second in the shot put with a new school record, 17.58m (57-8 1/4).
- Dewayne Johnson placed 10th in the 110mH with the program's 10th-fastest time (13.87).
- Michail Rose placed 28th (14.83).
Full Illini Results
- Kam Garrett placed second in the high jump invite, 2.20m (7-2 1/2).
- Will Rezny placed second in the collegiate shot put, 17.54m (57-6 1/2).
- Alex Sohn placed seventh 17.08m (56-0 1/2).
- Jackson Gilbert placed 13th in the 400m (46.26).
- Jayon Morrow placed 48th (55.49).
- Rafael Raap placed 14th in the collegiate discus, 46.39m (152-2).
- Reece Ihenacho placed 17th, 44.80m (147-0).
- Halle Hill placed 20th in the collegiate 800m (2:08.05).
- Kennady Anderson placed 38th (2:12.87).
- Tadeas Placek placed 20th in the collegiate 800m (1:49.36).
- Nicolas Dovalovsky placed 23rd (1:49.77).
- Will Merrick placed 40th (1:51.17).
- Trey Sato placed 48th (1:52.39).
- Tacoria Humphrey placed 20th in the collegiate 100m (11.52).
- Llyric Driscoll placed 35th in the collegiate 100mH (14.04).
























