Yeboah Emerges as Women’s Program’s First High Jump National Champion

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EUGENE, Ore. – The Illinois women’s track and field team completed the final day of competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Saturday (June 8) from Hayward Field. Redshirt junior Rose Yeboah became the first Illinois women’s high jump national champion with an NCAA Outdoor Championships meet- and school-record leap of 1.97m (6-5 1/2).

Yeboah is the first national champion for the Illinois women’s team since Ashley Spencer won the 400m in 2013. In addition, she is the fourth Illini woman to stand on the podium in the event and the first to do so since Stacy Ann Grant in 1997. Her mark has automatically qualified her to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Junior Darja Sopova earned All-America honors in the triple jump, improving her school record to 14.01m (45-11 3/4). She is the second-ever Illini woman triple jump All-American in program history; the only other one was Nicole Whitman in 2003.

 “Rose Yeboah was the absolute highlight of our team in distinct fashion hitting the automatic qualification standard for the Paris Olympics,” exclaimed director of track, field and cross country Petros Kyprianou. “Winning an NCAA Championship is huge especially in an event that was the deepest in the history of the NCAA. Just to give context 1.97m was the winning jump at the Rio Olympics! Also, Darja Sopova’s silver medal and massive school record was huge as well. This meet is all about quality and quality only. It has been our strategy to capitalize in events that are technical and hard to coach. It shows that it pays off in just year two. I’m very proud of our student athletes and staff for an amazing and memorable year. I can’t wait for next season to return all these outstanding student athletes plus the new additions!”

Yeboah completed her first season with the Illini by earning All-America honors in the high jump both indoors and outdoors. She also won the high jump at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, becoming the first one to achieve the feat since Grant in 1998.

Sopova completed her first season in the Orange and Blue after garnering All-America honors in the triple jump both indoors and outdoors. She took home the triple jump Big Ten Indoor title and owns both school records indoors and outdoors.

Junior Jessica McDowell placed ninth in the 400m finals with a time of 51.35. Her…