Full Results
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Sophia Beckmon is the indoor long jump national champion after the first day of the NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday (March 13) from Randal Tyson Track Center. She leaped 6.84m (22-5 1/4) to earn the program's first-ever field event national title indoors. Additionally, she's the first Big Ten woman to win an indoor national title in the three major jump events (high jump, long jump, triple jump). Through five events, the women's squad is in the lead with 30 points.
"I'm so proud of Sophia, JaiCieonna, Phethisang and Jordan today," said director of track, field and cross country Petros Kyprianou. "Sophia did something that's never been done in Illinois history before not only winning the first indoor long jump national title, but it's the first field event national title indoors in school history. JaiCieonna and Phethisang both being national runners-up in their events with school record marks is exactly what we talk about; bringing your best to the big one and they did that today. Jordan had a great day in the weight throw as well getting on that podium for us to score some valuable points. We weren't perfect today and left some points out there, but I'm happy with our fight and we really have to bring it tomorrow."
Beckmon's now a three-time All-American after her gold medal today where she won it from her first jump of 6.72m (22-0 3/4) as second place was 6.70m (21-11 3/4). Three of Beckmon's four legal marks would have won the competition today but her third attempt of 6.84m took the crown just a centimeter off her season best.
JaiCieonna Gero-Holt left the track as the silver medalist in the pentathlon with a school record point total of 4,466 points as she won both the high jump [1.84m (6-0 1/2)] and shot put [14.12m (46-4)]. She's only the second pentathlon All-American ever in school history and is the program's highest finisher. Marissa Golliday placed seventh in 2013 as the school's other All-American.
Phethisang Makhethe earned her second-consecutive All-America honor in the weight throw when she tossed a school record 24.40m (80-0 3/4) to finish as the national runner up. She threw her new lifetime best on her fifth attempt to be the first Illini women's weight thrower to earn All-American status in consecutive seasons.
Jordan Koskondy joined Makhethe earning her second-straight weight throw All-America honor in her fifth-place finish today on a throw of 22.65m (74-3 3/4). Koskondy and Makhethe are the only weight throw All-Americans in school history and now repeat it in a second-consecutive season.
In the men's heptathlon Jip de Greef sits in fourth place with 3,411 points led by two third-place finishes in the shot put [14.05m (46-1 1/4)] and long jump [7.54m (24-9)]. Luuk Pelkmans resides right behind de Greef in fifth place with 3,393 points. His highest finish today was second in the shot put, 15.19m (49-10).
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
ALL-AMERICANS
TOP-10 PROGRAM MARKS
First – Pentathlon: JaiCieonna Gero-Holt, 4,466 points
First – Weight Throw: Phethisang Makhethe, 24.40m (80-0 3/4)
Eighth – Long Jump: Meagan Humphries, 6.32m (20-9)
STANDINGS
WOMEN
1. Illinois – 30
2. Oregon – 20
3. Florida – 14
4. BYU – 13
5. Minnesota – 10
6. South Carolina – 8
6. Stanford – 8
6. Alabama – 8
9. Kansas State – 7
NOTES
PENTATHLON
JaiCieonna Gero-Holt – First (4,466 points)
- Won the high jump, 1.84m (6-0 1/2)
- Won the shot put, 14.12m (46-4)
- Placed ninth in the long jump, 5.94m (19-6)
- Placed 10th in the 60mH (8.58)
- Placed 11th in the 800m (2:21.46)
HEPTATHLON
Jip de Greef – Fourth (3,411 points)
- Placed third in the long jump, 7.54m (24-9)
- Placed third in the shot put, 14.05m (46-1 1/4)
- Placed seventh in the 60m (6.94)
- Placed seventh in the high jump, 2.03m (6-8)
Luuk Pelkmans – Fifth (3,393 points)
- Placed second in the shot put, 15.19m (49-10)
- Placed fourth in the high jump, 2.06m (6-9)
- Placed eighth in the long jump, 7.33m (24-0 3/4)
- Placed 14th in the 60m (7.12)
UP NEXT
The Orange and Blew track and field crews return to action for the final day of the NCAA Indoor Championships tomorrow (March 14) with the heptathlon resuming at 11 a.m. and field events beginning at 1 p.m. CT.
