Beckmon Breaks Big Ten, Illinois, Demirjian Track Long Jump Record, Ties U.S. U20 National Record

CHAMPAIGN, IL (CHAMBANA TODAY) – Freshman long jumper Sophia Beckmon jumped an Olympic standard long jump of 6.86m (22-6 1/4) at the Fighting Illini Tune-Up on Saturday (May 4). 6.85m is the United States Olympic standard for the women’s long jump. Her mark broke the Big Ten, Illinois and Demirjian Park records with ease and tied the United States Under-20 national record.

Her teammate, junior Tacoria Humphrey, also had a big day, leaping 6.81m (22-4 1/4) (6.80m wind legal) to take second in the program and national leaderboards for the 2024 outdoor season.

“What a great weekend this was for the team and to send off our seniors,” said director of track, field and cross country Petros Kyprianou. “We put on a show in the jumps from Olympic standards to regional qualifying marks. Our teams are showing that they’re sharpening up and they’re getting ready for the post season starting next week. Now it’s time to go back to work, rest up and get ready for what looks like a challenging weather conference meet.’

‘Our athletes are going in with some good confidence and we had too many highlights to mention them all. Obviously, Sophia Beckmon’s 6.86m Olympic standard long jump shows that she’s somebody we can rely on down the road. She’s a freshman and I like the way all our jumpers are responding. Tori Thomas’ 4.52m pole vault is a massive jump that demands attention from the nation.”

Two Illini women’s high jumpers, Bara Sajdokova and Rose Yeboah, shared the new school and Demirjian Park record, clearing 1.91m (6-3 1/4) on each of their first attempts. Yeboah earned the event title since she cleared each of her preceding marks on her first attempt, while Sajdokova cleared 1.86m (6-1 1/4) on her third and final attempt.

They each gave 1.97m (6-5 1/2) all three attempts, but it was not in the cards today. Their 1.91m (6-3 1/4) mark slots them both in at third nationally for the 2024 outdoor season.

Sophomore Azariyah Bryant sprinted the new school record in the 100m, clocking in at 11.24 seconds. This dethrones the 26-year-old record (11.28) originally set by Aspen Burkett in 1998. Later, in the 200m, Bryant sped to the program’s third-best time (22.92), capturing event titles in both disciplines.

Freshman Eleftherios Kontonikola toppled the 31-year-old program record in the javelin, throwing 69.27m (227-3) in his event win. Brad Lawton’s 68.63m (225-2) survived at the top of the program record book for over three decades after being set in 1993.

Junior Tori Thomas broke the pole vault school and Demirjian Park record with her 4.52m (14-10) vault. She has been very close many times to Stephanie Richartz’s 4.45m (14-7 1/4) mark, which was set in 2015, and Thomas finally shattered it by closing the meet out with one final school record. It’s currently the nation’s eighth-best vault for 2024. 

Junior Phethisang Makhethe tossed the program’s second-best hammer throw mark of 61.93m (203-2). Fellow junior Will Merrick clocked the program’s sixth-fastest 1500m time of 3:40.90.

Junior Kam Garrett earned gold in the men’s high jump competition with the program’s third-best clearance, 2.20m (7-2 1/2), which also ranks 10th nationally. He gave the 2.26m (7-5) school record a couple of attempts but was content with saving himself for next week’s Big Ten Championships.

Sophomore Viktor Morozov rounded out the meet with one final top-10 program mark in the long jump, in which he leaped 7.79m (25-6 3/4) to etch himself in at sixth in the record book.

“I’m hoping and looking forward to putting these marks on a championship because if this team does what they did today at a championship, we will be in very good shape.”

The Orange and Blue track and field crews return to action next week, May 10-12, for the Big Ten Outdoor Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Top-10 Program Marks

• Sophia Beckmon won the long jump with the Big Ten, Demirjian Park and school record, 6.86m (22-6 1/4).
  • Tacoria Humphrey placed second with the program’s second-best mark, 6.81m (22-4 1/4).
  • Elizabeth Ndudi placed third, 6.59m (21-7 1/2).
• Rose Yeboah and Bara Sajdokova placed first and second respectively in the high jump with the school record, 1.91m (6-3 1/4).
• Azariyah Bryant won the 100m and broke the school record (11.24).
  • She also won the 200m with the program’s third-best time (22.92).
• Eleftherios Kontonikola won the javelin and broke the school record, 69.27m (227-3).
• Tori Thomas won the pole vault and broke the school record, 4.52m (14-10).
• Viktor Morozov placed second in the long jump with the program’s sixth-best mark, 7.79m (25-6 3/4).
• Will Merrick placed second in the 1500m with the program’s sixth-fastest time (3:40.90).
• Phethisang Makhethe placed third in the hammer throw with the program’s second-best throw, 61.93m (203-2).
• Kam Garrett won the high jump with the program’s third-best jump, 2.20m (7-2 1/2).

Full Illini Results

• Tyler Sudduth won the shot put, 19.52m (64-0 1/2).
  • Will Rezny placed second, 17.98m (59-0).
  • Daniel Lucas placed third, 16.70m (54-9 1/2).
  • Alex Sohn placed fourth with a new PB, 16.52m (54-2 1/2).
• Tyler Sudduth won the discus, 53.03m (173-11).
  • Daniel Lucas placed second with a new PB, 46.85m (153-8).
• Nicolas Dovalovsky won the 800m with a PB (1:48.49).
  • Tadeas Placek placed second (1:49.38).
• Michail Rose won the 110mH (14.61).
• Madison Hardamon won the 400m (57.20).
  • Ashley Oliver placed second (59.54).
• Jackson Gilbert won the 400m (48.83).
  • He also won the 200m with a PB (21.32).
• Robert Williams won the 400mH (51.11).
  • Michail Rose placed second (55.28).
  • Alex Ornelas placed third (57.91).
• Mabry Bruhn won the 800m with a new PB (2:17.64).
  • Isabella Daley placed second with a new PB (2:18.80).
  • Breena Shreeves placed fourth (2:20.31).
• Sam Poglitsch won the 1500m (4:29.86).
  • Amalia Malecek placed second (4:42.17).
  • Audrey Ginsberg placed third (4:45.03).
  • Abby Lynch placed fourth with a new PB (4:45.85).
  • Mabry Bruhn placed fifth (4:50.05).
  • Isabella Daley placed sixth (4:52.97).
  • Breena Shreeves placed seventh (4:53.95).
• Jessica McDowell placed second in the 100m (11.60).
  • Asia Thomas placed third (11.61).
• Javaris Ambrose placed second in the hammer throw, 60.04m (196-11).
• CJ Shoaf placed second in the high jump, 2.02m (6-7 1/2).
  • Alex Babbington placed third, 2.02m (6-7 1/2).
• Brady Masters placed third in the 1500m with a new PB (3:46.38).
  • Kyle Clark placed fourth with a new PB (3:47.40).
  • Will O’Brien placed seventh (3:54.99).
  • Jake Myers placed ninth (4:03.36).
• Kelsey Rothas placed fourth in the pole vault, 3.92m (12-10 1/4).
• Olivia Campbell placed fourth in the hammer throw, 56.63m (185-9).
  • Faith Deering placed fifth, 56.13m (184-2).
  • Jordan Koskondy placed sixth, 54.20m (177-10).