Chambana Sun

The Illinois women's and men's track and field teams participated in the New Mexico Collegiate Classic and the Bruce Lehane Scarlet & White Invitational on February 8. Both events yielded significant results, including record-breaking performances by Asia Thomas and Abria Smith.

In Albuquerque, Asia Thomas set a new school record in the 60m with a time of 7.24 seconds, surpassing Benita Kelley's previous record of 7.27 seconds set in 1996. This achievement places her as the 15th-fastest nationally for this event, which could qualify her for the NCAA Indoor Championships if the season concluded now. She finished second in this competition.

Abria Smith broke another school record in shot put with a throw of 17.27 meters, outdoing Olympian Aja Evans' mark from 2010. Her performance holds the final national qualification spot, earning her third place in today's contest.

Jackson Gilbert also made his mark by recording the eighth-fastest time in Illinois history for the 400m at 46.67 seconds, finishing eleventh overall. Cody Johnston won first place in pole vault with a clearance of 5.46 meters.

In Boston, Halle Hill achieved a ninth-place finish in the mile run with a time of 4:34.67, marking it as the second-fastest mile time in Illinois history. Nicolas Dovalovsky recorded Illinois' tenth-fastest time for an 800m run at 1:49.24 during his tenth-place finish.

Looking ahead, both teams will compete next at the Tyson Invitational held from February 14 to February 15 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.