Javonie Small Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (Sprints, Hurdles and Relays) | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Javonie Small Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (Sprints, Hurdles and Relays) | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
The Big Ten Conference has announced the winners of the 2024 Big Ten Men's & Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships awards. The event took place last weekend at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
Senior Aiden Ouimet was recognized as Men's Field Athlete of the Championships after winning the heptathlon title with a new conference indoor record of 6,120 points. This achievement is both a school record and ranks as the second highest score nationally for this season. Ouimet is noted as the only Illini to have received this award in Big Ten history.
Petros Kyprianou, director of track, field, and cross country, was named Big Ten Coach of the Year on the women's side. He led Illinois to their first indoor team championship since 2013. Under his leadership, three athletes from the Illini women's squad won individual Big Ten championships, marking their best performance since 2013 when four athletes topped the podium. Kyprianou is also noted as being the first Illini coach to win this award since Tonja Buford-Bailey in 2013.
Illinois' Senior Will Rezny and junior Tori Thomas were honored with Illinois' Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The award recognizes one student-athlete from each team for demonstrating sportsmanship and ethical behavior while maintaining good academic standing and citizenship outside sports competition. Rezny and Thomas are now candidates for the overall Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
The announcement also included other honorees: Cheickna Traore from Penn State was named Track Athlete of the Championships for men's indoor track & field; Mick Byrne from Wisconsin received Coach of the Year honors; Hayley Kitching from Penn State was named Track Athlete of the Championships for women's indoor track & field; Chloe Timberg from Rutgers earned Field Athlete of the Championships recognition.
The conference will announce additional awards including Track Athlete of the Year, Field Athlete of the Year, and Freshman of the Year following NCAA Championships scheduled for March 7-9 at The Track at New Balance in Boston, Massachusetts.
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