CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men's and women's track and field teams are set for the Big Ten Outdoor Championships on Fri.-Sun. (May 16-18) at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. 20 men and 20 women will represent the Orange and Blue in Eugene with some top national talent sprinkled throughout the lineup.
Most notably on the women's side the current national lead in the high jump belongs to Rose Yeboah. She cleared 1.91m (6-3 1/4) at the Florida Relays on April 4 and has held the top spot in the nation since then. She's aiming to win her second-consecutive Big Ten outdoor title in the event after taking home the gold last season in Ann Arbor, Mich. with a 1.82m (5-11 1/2) jump.
Abria Smith made some noise at the Tom Jones Invitational on April 18 when she threw the nation's third-best shot put at 18.92m (62-1). Not only did this mark shatter the program record, but it's also the 14th-best shot put in NCAA outdoor history. At the same meet Tacoria Humphrey opened her season with the nation's fifth-best long jump, 6.73m (22-1), to round out the national top-5 Illini athletes.
Three other Illini women bolster top-20 marks in the country. Two weeks ago, at the Gary Wieneke Memorial Phethisang Makhethe threw the nation's 13th-best hammer throw, 66.80m (219-2). Tori Thomas cleared the 14th-best pole vault in the country, 4.43m (14-6 1/4), at the 44 Farms Invitational on April 12 and Sophia Beckmon leapt the 16th-best long jump, 6.41m (21-0 1/2), at the Tom Jones Invitational.
The men's squad is led by Kam Garrett who hopped the nation's 11th-best high jump at the Florida Relays, 2.20m (7-2 1/2). Viktor Morozov registered a 15.94m (52-3 3/4) triple jump at the Gary Wieneke Memorial which slots him in at 15th on the national leaderboard. Cody Johnston currently sits at 23rd on the pole vault list with a 5.42m (17-9 1/4) clearance also set at the Gary Wieneke Memorial.
WEST PRELIMINARIES WATCHLIST
The top 48 from each the east and west regions advance to their respective preliminary rounds on May 28-31. Illinois will compete at the NCAA West Preliminaries in College Station, Texas hosted by Texas A&M. The top 12 from each east and west preliminaries advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore. on June 11-14.
WOMEN (16 across 10 events)
#1 high jump – Rose Yeboah, 1.91m (6-3 1/4)
#2 shot put – Abria Smith, 18.92m (62-1)
#4 long jump – Tacoria Humphrey, 6.73m (22-1)
#9 hammer throw – Phethisang Makhethe, 66.80m (219-2)
#9 long jump – Sophia Beckmon, 6.41m (21-0 1/2)
#11 pole vault – Tori Thomas, 4.43m (14-6 1/4)
#17 pole vault – Mia Morello, 4.38m (14-4 1/2)
#17 hammer throw – Jordan Koskondy, 64.80m (212-7)
#18 200m – Sophia Beckmon, 23.06
#23 1500m – Halle Hill, 4:13.99
#25 100m – Azariyah Bryant, 11.32
#25 high jump – Bara Sajdokova, 1.79m (5-10 1/2)
#30 hammer throw – Faith Deering, 59.88m (196-5)
#30 3000m steeplechase – Sam Poglitsch, 10:15.62
#31 200m – Azariyah Bryant, 23.22
#36 100m – Asia Thomas, 11.38
#38 200m – Asia Thomas, 23.29
#42 800m – Halle Hill, 2:05.83
#43 hammer throw – Abria Smith, 58.25m (191-1)
#45 long jump – Elizabeth Ndudi, 6.16m (20-2 1/2)
MEN (six across seven events)
#7 high jump – Kam Garrett, 2.20m (7-2 1/2)
#8 triple jump – Viktor Morozov, 15.49m (52-3 3/4)
#14 pole vault – Cody Johnston, 5.42m (17-9 1/4)
#22 shot put – Will Rezny, 18.71m (61-4 3/4)
#29 long jump – Viktor Morozov, 7.62m (25-0)
#33 400m – Jackson Gilbert, 45.92
#34 800m – Tadeas Placek, 1:48.13
