University of Illinois
NCAA West Preliminaries
Eight Illini Advance to NCAA Outdoor Championship on Second Day of NCAA West Prelims
May 28, 2026 | Women's Track & Field, Men's Track & Field
RECAP
Full Results
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Illinois women's track and field team completed their first day of the NCAA West Preliminaries on Thursday (May 28) from John McDonnell Field as well as the men's pole vaulters whose competition was moved to today due to weather.
Phethisang Makhethe, Jordan Koskondy and Oluwatomilayo Akintunde all placed inside the top-12 in the hammer throw to punch their tickets to their first NCAA Outdoor Championships. Makhethe threw 66.87m (219-4), Koskondy tossed 66.43m (217-11) and Akintunde heaved 63.94m (209-9).
Three women's long jumpers punched their tickets to Eugene as well by placing inside the top-12 in Sophia Beckmon, Katharina Graman and Elizabeth Ndudi. Beckmon leaped 6.76m (22-2 1/4), Graman hopped 6.37m (20-10 3/4) and Ndudi recorded a 6.36m (20-10 1/2) mark.
Two pole vaulters advanced to the national meet as well today finishing in the top-12 with Cody Johnston in the postponed men's competition and Mia Morello on the women's side. Johnston cleared 5.47m (17-11 1/4) while Morello cleared 4.33m (14-2 1/2) to advance to their third-straight NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Grace Kombetto ran a 2:05.01 in the 800m to advance to Saturday's quarterfinals race.
NATIONAL QUALIFIERS
- Phethisang Makhethe – hammer throw, 66.87m (219-4)
- Jordan Koskondy – hammer throw, 66.43m (217-11)
- Oluwatomilayo Akintunde – hammer throw, 63.94m (209-9)
- Sophia Beckmon – long jump, 6.76m (22-2 1/4)
- Katharina Graman – long jump, 6.37m (20-10 3/4)
- Elizabeth Ndudi – long jump, 6.36m (20-10 1/2)
- Cody Johnston – pole vault, 5.47m (17-11 1/4)
- Mia Morello – pole vault, 4.33m (14-2 1/2)
UP NEXT
The men's track and field team returns to action tomorrow (May 29) for their final day of competition with field events at 1 p.m. and track events at 5:15 p.m. CT.
NOTES
- Grace Kombetto ran a 2:05.01 in the 800m to advance to Saturday's quarterfinals race
- Brenden Vanderpool placed 14th in the pole vault, 5.37m (17-7 1/4)
- Cade DeWitt and Gator Young placed 20th, 5.07m (16-7 1/2)
- Anastasia Retsa placed 21st in the pole vault, 4.08m (13-4 1/2)
- Oluwatomilayo Akintunde placed 24th in the shot put, 15.59m (51-1 3/4)
- Romi Tamir placed 32nd in the long jump, 6.08m (19-11 1/2)
