Courtney Hill Director of Operations - Track and Field/Cross Country | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Courtney Hill Director of Operations - Track and Field/Cross Country | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
The Fighting Illini Challenge and Combined Events saw impressive performances from the University of Illinois' track and field teams. On Friday, Tori Thomas set new records in the pole vault, achieving a national-leading clearance of 4.57m (15-0). This accomplishment broke the Big Ten, school, and UI Armory records previously held by Stephanie Richartz and Rutger's Chloe Timberg.
Lucie Kienast also excelled in her first pentathlon for Illinois, setting a national-leading point total of 4,405. She surpassed Jess Lehman's nine-year-old Big Ten record and Marissa Golliday's school record. Despite finishing second overall in the pentathlon standings, assistant coach Cheyenne Nesbitt claimed victory with a score of 4,506.
Will Merrick made history by breaking Marko Koers' long-standing 1000m school record with a time of 2:22.72. Nicolas Dovalovsky followed closely behind with a time of 2:22.74.
Halle Hill captured another school record in the women's 1000m event with a time of 2:44.22, beating Olivia Howell's previous mark.
Other notable performances included Melissa Wullschleger finishing fourth in the pentathlon with 3,903 points and Abria Smith improving her weight throw to 20.68m (67-10 1/4). In men's heptathlon events, Jip De Greef leads with 3,326 points while Rafael Raap is in fourth place with 3,070 points.
The Fighting Illini Challenge will continue on Saturday as Illinois aims to build on these achievements.
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