Full Results
EUGENE, Ore. – The Illinois men's and women's track and field teams finished the first day of the Big Ten Outdoor Championships on Friday (May 16) from Hayward Field. Cody Johnston became the first Illini man in 31 years to top the Big Ten Outdoor Championships pole vault podium clearing a meet record*, 5.64m (18-6). He's the program's 10th vaulter to earn gold in the pole vault and brings home the program's 13th individual B1G title.
He cleared his fourth bar of 5.49m (18-0) on his first attempt with ease and moved up to 5.54m (18-2) clearing on his second attempt. 5.59m (18-4) was also no problem for him at all clearing on his first try which set the stage for his new PR of 5.64m. It was Johnston's day in Eugene as he barely grazed the bar on his first jump, but it stayed up and he became Illinois' first champion in the event since Darren McDonough in 1994. 5.64m is also the second-best vault in program history and the third-best vault in the country for the 2025 season.Â
Phethisang Makhethe walked away with a silver medal in the women's hammer throw with a South African national record 68.66m (225-3). Her mark is the second best in program history and the sixth best in the country for the 2025 season.
Sophia Beckmon and Halle Hill both qualified to Sunday's finals in their respective races. Hill got second in her 1500m heat to earn the automatic bid (4:20.49) while Beckmon snared the final 200m qualifying spot with a time of 23.39.
Javaris Ambrose threw the program's fourth-best hammer throw in his 14th-place finish, 62.99m (206-8), while Faith Deering threw the program's fifth-best hammer throw in her 10th-place finish, 59.90m (196-6).
The combined events crew completed the first haves of their heptathlon and decathlon today. Melissa Wullschleger currently sits at second in the heptathlon with 3,536 points highlighted by a strong start with a win in the 100m hurdles. Lucie Kienast resides in fourth place with 3,461 points highlighted by her fourth-place finish in the high jump. Rafael Raap is sixth in the decathlon with 3,808 points and his highest finish of the day was second in the shot put.
* - Johnston did clear 5.64m, but hours after competition it was noticed that the standards were never changed over from the high school meet a few weeks prior. The Big Ten announced that the team points and his Big Ten title still counts. However, no one's marks from the meet counted.Â
CHAMPION QUOTES
Cody Johnston
On his first Big Ten title…
"It feels great, it's a relief. I expected to win it (my) freshman year indoor and outdoor, but I didn't come through, so I am happy I came through today."
On what made the difference today...
"This facility, being here in Oregon is always a blessing. The conference also makes a difference, it always pushes everybody. Just being here, I feel like this isn't Oregon's track but Nike's track. This is TrackTown USA, so it's great to be here."
On training...
"It has been a little rough. We switched to a different pole brand four weeks ago and I have been jumping off it a lot. Today we were going a little blind with the different pole, but I knew what we had to do. There is a lot of stuff that goes into pole vaulting, so mentally if you aren't there, you will not be there with your jumps. If you aren't comfortable with your pole, you aren't going to be comfortable with your jumps. Therefore, getting that confidence and being comfortable on the pole is what is needed."
BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
- Cody Johnston won the pole vault with a meet record and program's second-best clearance, 5.64m (18-6).
PODIUM
TOP-10 PROGRAM MARKS
Second – Pole Vault: Cody Johnston, 5.64m (18-6).
Second – Hammer Throw: Phethisang Makhethe, 68.66m (225-3).
Fourth – Hammer Throw: Javaris Ambrose, 62.99m (206-8).
Fifth – Hammer Throw: Faith Deering, 59.90m (196-6).
STANDINGS
WOMEN
1. Minnesota – 20
2. Penn State – 14
3. Illinois – 11
4. Oregon, Wisconsin – 10
6. Nebraska – 6
7. Maryland – 4
8. Indiana – 2
9. Michigan State – 1
- Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, USC, Washington – 0
MEN
1. Minnesota – 28
2. Oregon – 27
3. Washington – 25
4. Nebraska – 23
5. Iowa, Rutgers – 13
7. Illinois – 10
8. UCLA – 6
9. Indiana – 4
10. Michigan, Wisconsin – 3
12. Purdue – 1
- Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, USC – 0
NOTES
Full Illini Results
Decathlon
Rafael Raap – Sixth (3,808 points)
- Placed second in the shot put, 13.81m (45-3 3/4).
- Placed fifth in the high jump, 1.90m (6-2 3/4).
- Placed sixth in the long jump, 6.99m (22-11 1/4).
- Placed ninth in the 100m (11.17).
- Placed 11th in the 400m (51.59).
Heptathlon
Melissa Wullschleger – Second (3,536 points)
- Won the 100mH (13.49).
- Placed third in the shot put, 13.74m (45-1).
- Placed seventh in the 200m (24.47).
- Placed ninth in the high jump, 1.63m (5-4 1/4).
Lucie Kienast – Fourth (3,461 points)
- Placed fourth in the high jump, 1.69m (5-6 1/2).
- Placed fifth in the shot put, 12.99m (42-7 1/2).
- Placed fifth in the 200m (24.43).
- Placed 11th in the 100mH (14.19).
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini track and field teams return to action tomorrow (May 17) for the second day of the Big Ten Outdoor Championships. Combined events are scheduled to resume at noon, field events at 5:40 p.m. and track at 6 p.m. CT.
