Chambana Sun

The Fighting Illini track and field teams are set to compete in the Big Ten Outdoor Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan, from May 10-12. The women's team aims for its first outdoor title since 2007, hoping to replicate their indoor success earlier this year. If successful, it would be the first time since 1995 that they win both titles in the same season.

The men's team is looking to improve on their seventh-place finish indoors, their best since 2015. Outdoors, they have not finished higher than sixth since 2017.

Sophia Beckmon made history as the first Illinois athlete to receive USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honors during the outdoor season. Her Olympic-standard long jump of 6.86m at the Fighting Illini Tune-Up broke multiple records and matched the American U20 record set by Alyssa Jones last year.

On May 4, several school records were broken at the Fighting Illini Tune-Up. Bara Sajdokova and Rose Yeboah set a new high jump record of 1.91m. Azariyah Bryant set a new program-record in the 100m with a time of 11.24 seconds and also achieved the third-fastest program time in the 200m at 22.92 seconds.

Freshman Eleftherios Kontonikola set a new javelin throw record at 69.27m, surpassing a record that stood for over three decades. Tori Thomas cleared a pole vault height of 4.52m to establish a new school record.

Tacoria Humphrey's long jump of 6.81m ranks third nationally but was overshadowed by Beckmon's leap. Overall, thirteen new top-10 program marks were achieved during this meet.

In terms of national rankings, several athletes hold top-10 positions across various events for both men and women.