CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men's and women's track and field teams are ready to begin the 2026 indoor season with the Illini Open on Saturday (Jan. 10) at the UI Armory. Field events will start at 12 p.m. while track events begin at 12:15 p.m. CT.
Director of track, field and cross country Petros Kyprianou led the Illini women's team to their second-highest finish ever at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2025 when they placed eighth. Only the 1996 women's team that placed sixth finished higher.
Returning All-American's from that squad include Sophia Beckmon, Phethisang Makhethe and Rose Yeboah. Makhethe earned the bronze medal in the weight throw on her 23.08m (75-8 3/4) heave, Beckmon finished fifth in the long jump on a 6.67m (21-10 3/4) mark and Yeboah placed sixth in the high jump when she cleared 1.85m (6-0 3/4).
On the men's side Cody Johnston is the only returning All-American from last season as he took eighth in the pole vault, 5.61m (18-4 3/4). Kyprianou added some more firepower to the men's team this past offseason however with the addition of Luuk Pelkmans who owns the Dutch U20 decathlon record (8,293 points) and Jonathan Kapitolnik who was a finalist in the high jump at the World Athletics Championships.
