Full Results
EUGENE, Ore. – The Illinois men's and women's track and field teams completed the Big Ten Outdoor Championships on Sunday (May 18) from Hayward Field. Viktor Morozov and Abria Smith both left the track with a gold medal around their necks as Big Ten Champions.
Morozov didn't win his triple jump title in the traditional fashion. He originally finished second with his jump of 15.63m (51-3 1/2) while USC jumper Jaren Holmes stood on top with a 16.20m (53-1 3/4) mark. However, after a spike double check that all champions go through it was deemed his were illegal which disqualified him from the competition making Morozov the champion.
It's his first Big Ten title and the program's first in 34 years since Aaron Mobarak last won it outdoors in 1991. Morozov is now the seventh Illinois triple jumper to earn a Big Ten title outdoors and claims the program's eighth individual B1G triple jump gold.
Smith left no doubt in the shot put ring en route to her first Big Ten title. From her very first throw she had the competition won and made the field chase her 17.95m (58-10 3/4) mark. She's the first Illini woman to top the Big Ten outdoor podium in 16 years since Olympic Medalist Aja Evans last did so in 2009. Smith is just the fourth Illini shot putter to claim gold in the event at the Big Ten outdoor meet and she earns the program's sixth individual B1G shot put title.
Rose Yeboah captured the silver medal today in the high jump competition clearing 1.84m (6-0 1/2). It's her second-straight silver medal after also placing second this past March and she's medaled in all four Big Ten Championships she's competed in: one gold, two silvers and a bronze.
The 4x100m relay team of Azariyah Bryant, Sophia Beckmon, Asia Thomas and Llyric Driscoll closed out the Big Ten Outdoor Championships on the program's sixth-fastest time (43.98) in their fourth-place finish.
The women finished in fifth place with 71 points and the men finished in eighth with 37 points.
CHAMPION QUOTES
Viktor Morozov
On how he found out he was the men's triple jump champion...
"I was in the middle of my post-competition treatment, and I went to check what standing Illinois was in for the men's overall. I looked to see if my eight points were there—and then I saw they gave me 10. I went back to the men's triple jump sheet and saw the USC athlete had been disqualified. As I was exiting the stadium, I saw officials checking for illegal spikes. I wondered whose spikes they were checking, and unfortunately for the USC athlete who won, it turned out to be his. I didn't do my job as well as I wanted to, but I fought till the end—and now I'm a champion."
On whether he thought his first attempt would be enough to win, or if he was pushing to improve throughout his attempts...
"No, of course, I opened up decently with a confident mark to build on for the next three attempts. I felt that it should be better as the competition went on, but I couldn't find my rhythm. Yesterday, I competed in the long jump and had three scratches, so mentally I wasn't all there. Competing at 10 in the morning was also tough. I hoped to do better. Based on my practices and past competitions, I know I have more in me and I'm excited to show it at regionals and come back stronger at nationals."
On how he feels winning after finding out later...
"I am a person who no matter what meet, whether it's a home or NCAA championship meet, I expect the best from myself. Big Ten competition is all about the team and not just about yourself. Especially if you're advancing towards regionals. It's all about placing as high as possible to bring the points for your team so we can win as a team. I was supposed to score eight points for my team, which is good but not the result I would have wanted. However, I ended up having 10 points and I'm glad that it happened that way for my team, but I will expect more from myself in the next two competitions. I will come back hungrier, with more excitement and be more prepared."
Abria Smith
On her first throw...
"First throw was 17.95, so pretty strong start, and then from there, my focus was just staying consistent, trying to build from there, tried to get it back on track, did my best, but God still got me through."
On if she was struggling today...
"Not necessarily struggling, I think that my biggest thing is just making sure I can keep my eyes open. Have fun. Just trust the process, trust God, trust what He has, just moving forward in that."
On if she can tell if a shot is good when it leaves her hand...
"I definitely can, based off even just the way, the placement of the shot put I know. So, I think I had a few good ones out the back, and then just got a little anxious in the front and missed it. But it's okay."
On what it means to win the title...
"It means a lot. This is my last year within the NCAA, so finishing up here as a grad student transfer, it means a lot, and I'm so very grateful for all of my support. Coach J.C. Lambert, just very grateful, very thankful. God is great."
On how her grad transfer year has gone...
"It's gone great actually. There's been the ups and downs, of course, but just making sure that I keep my eye on the prize, staying focused, staying consistent, showing up every day, whether it's within the classroom or on the field. It's all the same, you know? And I have the end goal at the at the end of the day is just to execute, have fun and enjoy the process."
On her expectations for the rest of the season...
"I'm expecting some bombs for the rest of the season, going in after this and keeping my eyes open so just staying consistent, having fun and continuing to show up through the end."
BIG TEN CHAMPIONS
PODIUM
INDIVIDUAL SCORERS
1. Tacoria Humphrey, Cody Johnston, Viktor Morozov, Rafael Raap, Abria Smith – 10
6. Lucie Kienast, Phethisang Makhethe, Rose Yeboah – 8
9. Sophia Beckmon, Kam Garrett – 7
11. Melissa Wullschleger -5
12. Tori Thomas – 4
13. Jordan Koskondy – 3
14. Halle Hill – 2
15. Sam Poglitsch – 1
TOP-10 PROGRAM MARKS
Sixth – 4x100m: Azariyah Bryant, Sophia Beckmon, Asia Thomas, Llyric Driscoll (43.98).
STANDINGS
WOMEN
1. USC – 121
2. Oregon – 113
3. UCLA – 84
4. Nebraska – 73
5. Illinois – 71
6. Washington – 64
7. Minnesota – 59
8. Iowa – 47
9. Michigan – 46
10. Penn State – 30
11. Wisconsin – 25
12. Michigan State – 21
13. Ohio State – 20
14. Rutgers – 13
15. Indiana – 12
16. Purdue – 11
17. Maryland – 9
MEN
1. Oregon – 110
2. Minnesota, Wisconsin – 81
4. USC – 78
5. Nebraska – 76
6. Washington – 72
7. Iowa – 59
8. Illinois, Penn State – 37
10. Ohio State – 33
11. UCLA – 32
12. Michigan – 31
13. Indiana – 29
14. Purdue – 22
15. Rutgers – 21
16. Michigan State – 15
17. Maryland – 3
NOTES
Full Illini Results
UP NEXT
The Fighting Illini track and field teams are off next week before they return to action for the NCAA West Preliminaries on May 28-31 in College Station, Texas hosted by Texas A&M.
