Chambana Sun

The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has released its initial weekly national rankings, with the University of Illinois women's track and field team leading the nation for the second consecutive season. This marks only the second time in program history that they have achieved this position, with last season being their first.

The Fighting Illini women's team boasts six athletes who hold top-5 marks nationally. Among them, Tacoria Humphrey leads in the long jump with a distance of 6.78 meters, while Lucie Kienast tops the pentathlon rankings with a score of 4,428 points. Other notable performances include Sophia Beckmon's second-place ranking in the long jump at 6.71 meters and Tori Thomas's second-place pole vault mark at 4.57 meters. Rose Yeboah holds third place in high jump with a height of 1.91 meters, and Darja Sopova ranks fifth in long jump at 6.51 meters.

On the men's side, Illinois ranks eighth nationally—their highest since reaching fourth place in 1995—with five athletes holding top-10 positions nationwide. Jip de Greef is currently leading in heptathlon scoring with 6,070 points. Viktor Morozov is ranked second in triple jump (16.35 meters) and seventh in long jump (7.81 meters). Tyler Sudduth is sixth on the shot put list (19.47 meters), while Cody Johnston rounds out their top-10 presence by placing tenth on the pole vault list at 5.52 meters.

Both teams have demonstrated strong individual performances early in this season as they continue to build on their recent successes.