Illinois Track and Field Hits the Road for Iowa

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men’s and women’s track and field teams are set for their second road meet of the young indoor season, the Larry Wieczorek Invitational, on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 19-20, in Iowa City, Iowa.

Junior Darja Sopova highlighted the women’s team this week, knocking down the 21-year-old triple jump school record with her mark, 13.56m (44-6). This is currently leading the nation in women’s triple jump and earned her women’s Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week honors.

The long jump school record was broken three different times last weekend between Tacoria Humphrey (6.32m (20-9)), Elizabeth Ndudi (6.40m (21-0)) and Sophia Beckmon, the latter of whom ultimately walked away with the school record (6.49m (21-3 1/2)).

Senior Tyler Sudduth threw the seventh-best weight throw in the country last weekend at Vanderbilt, 21.97m (71-5 1/4). His shot put from the Illini Open slots inside the top-10 nationwide at number nine, 18.77m (61-7). Sophomore Viktor Morozov won his first triple jump of the year, 15.79m (51-9 3/4), which ranks eighth in the country.

TOP-10 MARKS NATIONALLY

WOMEN

#1 Darja Sopova – triple jump, 13.56m (44-6), school record

#2 Tori Thomas – pole vault, 4.42m (14-6)

#2 Sophia Beckmon – long jump, 6.49m (21-3 1/2), school record

#3 Jessica McDowell – 400m (52.57)

#4 Elizabeth Ndudi – long jump, 6.40m (21-0)

#4 Bara Sajdokova – high jump, 1.85m (6-0 3/4)

#5, #10 Asia Thomas – 200m (23.45), 60m (7.28)

#6 Tacoria Humphrey – long jump, 6.32m (20-9)

#8 Amber Simpson – weight throw, 21.91m (71-10 3/4), school record

MEN

#7 Kam Garrett – high jump, 2.18m (7-1 3/4)

#7, #9 Tyler Sudduth – weight throw, 21.97m (72-1), shot put, 18.77m (61-7)

#8 Viktor Morozov – triple jump, 15.79m (51-9 3/4)