CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illini men's and women's track and field teams are prepared for their second meet of the indoor season with the Hoosier Horsepower Classic on Friday-Saturday (Jan. 16-17) in Indianapolis.
Sophia Beckmon opened the season with a bang as she recorded the current world lead mark in the women's long jump at 6.81m (22-4 1/4). This mark not only leads the world but the NCAA and Big Ten as well while also being the new UI Armory record and second-best jump in program history. This jump earned her Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week honors.Â
She has the 15th-best career-high long jump in women's NCAA Indoor history and it's the 22nd-furthest overall performance. After meet one, the two-time All-American has almost undoubtedly punched her ticket to the NCAA Indoor Championships. The Oregon City, Ore. native also sprinted a new personal best in the 60m (7.34) which is the seventh-fastest in program history.
Weight thrower Jordan Koskondy also had a solid opening weekend as she threw the school's second-best mark at 22.91m (75-2) which is the third-best mark in the nation currently. Her teammate, Oluwatomilayo Akintunde, had an impressive Illini debut throwing two top-10 program marks in the weight throw [fourth, 21.70m (71-2 1/2)] and shot put [fifth, 15.19m (49-10)].
Over on the men's side Cade DeWitt and Jip de Greef both recorded the 10th-best pole vault in program history at 5.28m (17-3 3/4).
