CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced their regional indoor season honors for the 2024 season on Thursday (March 14).
Director of track, field and cross country Petros Kyprianou was named the Midwest Region’s Women’s Coach of the Year in his second season leading the Illinois track and field programs.
“This award is clearly a reflection of a good team and staff,” said Kyprianou. “I’m grateful to be at an institution that promotes success and, most importantly, winning the right way. Our teams and every single one of our student-athletes made history since this is one of the most impressive turnarounds in history. My goal is to make sure that every Illini walks standing tall, proud of our University and history. Why not Illinois, I ask? On to the outdoor season! ILL.”
This honor came on the heels of leading the Illini women to their first Big Ten Indoor title since 2013 with 104 points and three Big Ten champions (Jessica McDowell [200m], Bara Sajdokova [high jump] and Darja Sopova [triple jump]).
He led a program-record nine individual women to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships, where they placed 19th, their best finish since 2013. The five All-American women (Elizabeth Ndudi [long jump], Tori Thomas [pole vault], Bara Sajdokova [high jump], Darja Sopova [triple jump] and Rose Yeboah [high jump]) tied the program’s single-season record, which was first set in 1995.
Kyprianou coached 10 school records throughout the whole indoor season. He was named Women’s Big Ten Coach of the Year on Feb. 29 to become the first Illini to win the award since Tonja Buford-Bailey in 2013. During the season, Illinois earned the program’s first-ever No. 1 ranking in the USTFCCCA national TFRI.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston. Performances from both the NCAA Championships and the regular season were considered. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
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