Chambana Sun

The Fighting Illini men's and women's track and field teams are preparing for a busy weekend as they head to two separate competitions. The teams will participate in the New Mexico Collegiate Classic in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on February 7-8, and the Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Invitational in Boston, Massachusetts, on February 8.

Events at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic will commence with field events at noon and track events at 4:30 p.m. Central Time on February 7. On February 8, both field and track events will start at 11 a.m. Central Time. In Boston, races are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Central Time on February 8.

Recently, the Illini teams concluded their participation in the Fighting Illini Challenge and Combined Events held on January 24-25 at the UI Armory. Jip de Greef achieved notable success by winning the heptathlon in his first collegiate competition with a score of 6,046 points (6,070 after flat track conversion). This performance ranks as the second-best in program history and is currently leading nationally. De Greef is also recognized as the first NCAA heptathlete this season to surpass the 6,000-point mark.

Viktor Morozov claimed victory in the triple jump with a leap of 16.35 meters (53-7¾), marking it as the second-best in program history and ranking second nationally for the current season.

Tori Thomas set new records by breaking the Big Ten, school, and UI Armory pole vault record with a clearance of 4.57 meters (15-0), which stands as her nation's second-best performance. Lucie Kienast also made headlines by setting new Big Ten and school records during her debut pentathlon event with a point total of 4,405 (4,428 after flat track conversion).

Among other top national performers from Illinois are Tacoria Humphrey (#2 long jump), Rose Yeboah (#3 high jump), Sophia Beckmon (#4 long jump), Phethisang Makhethe (#8 weight throw), Darja Sopova (#9 long jump), Morgan Smalls (#11 long jump), Bara Sajdokova (#12 high jump), Elizabeth Ndudi (#16 long jump) for women; Jip de Greef (#1 heptathlon), Viktor Morozov (#4 triple jump; #8 long jump), Tyler Sudduth (#6 shot put; #16 weight throw), Cody Johnston (#13 pole vault) for men.