Petros Kyprianou Director of Track & Field and Cross Country | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
Petros Kyprianou Director of Track & Field and Cross Country | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website
The University of Illinois track and field program has released its schedule for the 2026 season. Director of track, field, and cross country Petros Kyprianou announced the details on Wednesday, September 17.
The Illini will host six meets in total—three during the indoor season and three during the outdoor season. The indoor campaign starts January 9-10 at the UI Armory with the Illini Open. The team then travels to Indianapolis for the Hoosier Horsepower Classic on January 16-17 before returning home for the Fighting Illini Challenge and Combined Events from January 22-24.
On January 30-31, Illinois will compete at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. In February, distance runners will travel to Boston for the David Hemery Valentine Invitational on February 13-14, while other members of the team head back to Fayetteville for the Tyson Invitational during those same dates.
The Illini return home for the Illini Last Chance meet on February 20 at UI Armory before traveling to South Bend, Indiana, for their final regular-season indoor meet—the Alex Wilson Invitational—on February 21.
The Big Ten Indoor Championships are scheduled in Indianapolis at Fall Creek Pavilion from February 27-28. NCAA Indoor Championships take place March 13-14 in Fayetteville.
Outdoor competition begins March 19-20 with River City Relays in Jacksonville, Florida. Two weeks later, Illinois returns to Florida for the Florida Relays in Gainesville (April 3-4). The first home outdoor event is April 9-11: Illini Deca-Jam at Demirjian Park in Champaign.
For mid-April events, distance athletes go to Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Wake Forest Invitational), while others attend Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Gainesville (April 17-18).
To conclude regular-season outdoor competition, Illinois hosts Gary Wieneke Memorial May 1-2 and finishes with Illini Tune-Up on May 8 at Demirjian Park.
Postseason events include Big Ten Outdoor Championships May 15-17 in Lincoln, Nebraska; NCAA West Preliminaries May 27-30 in Fayetteville; and NCAA Outdoor Championships June 10-13 in Eugene, Oregon.
"CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois track and field team released their schedule for the 2026 season, director of track, field, and cross country Petros Kyprianou announced on Wednesday (Sept. 17). The Illini will host six meets in 2026, three during the indoor season and three during the outdoor season."
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