Chambana Sun

Sophia Beckmon, a freshman long jumper, achieved an Olympic standard long jump of 6.86 meters at the Fighting Illini Tune-Up in Champaign, Illinois. This performance broke records for the Big Ten, Illinois, and Demirjian Park while tying the United States Under-20 national record. Her teammate Tacoria Humphrey also impressed with a leap of 6.81 meters.

Director of track, field, and cross country Petros Kyprianou expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance: "What a great weekend this was for the team and to send off our seniors." He highlighted Beckmon's achievement as a promising sign for future competitions: "Obviously, Sophia Beckmon's 6.86m Olympic standard long jump shows that she's somebody we can rely on down the road."

In other events, high jumpers Bara Sajdokova and Rose Yeboah both cleared 1.91 meters to set new school and Demirjian Park records. Azariyah Bryant set a new school record in the 100m sprint with a time of 11.24 seconds and later secured another event title in the 200m.

Freshman Eleftherios Kontonikola broke a longstanding javelin record with a throw of 69.27 meters. Tori Thomas achieved a new pole vault record at 4.52 meters.

Junior Kam Garrett won gold in men's high jump with a clearance of 2.20 meters, while Viktor Morozov recorded one of the top ten program marks in long jump at 7.79 meters.

The team will next compete at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships from May 10-12 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Kyprianou remains optimistic about upcoming challenges: "I'm hoping and looking forward to putting these marks on a championship because if this team does what they did today at a championship, we will be in very good shape."