Director of track and field and cross country Petros Kyprianou has announced that high jumper Jonathan Kapitolnik will join the University of Illinois Fighting Illini men's track and field team in January for the 2026 season. Kapitolnik, who comes from Israel, was a finalist at the World Athletics Championships in March.
Kapitolnik holds a personal best of 2.31 meters (7-6 3/4) in the high jump. This mark would set new indoor and outdoor records for the Illinois program. He won the World U20 Championships in 2021 with a jump of 2.26 meters (7-4 3/4).
Kapitolnik has also achieved several other honors, including six consecutive Israeli National Championships titles from 2020 to 2025, a gold medal at the European U20 Championships in 2021, and another gold at the European Team Championships in 2025.
"He's the top recruit Kyprianou has brought in during his tenure as he was a finalist at the World Athletics Championships this past March," said Kyprianou.
Kapitolnik will begin his freshman year with Illinois in January.
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