On February 25th, 2023, the Illinois Track and Field Club continued its over a decade-long dominance of their home meet at the Armory – the Illinois Club Relays. The ITFC, since its founding in 2006, and the meet’s origins in 2012, has been a home to many athletes who wish to continue to develop, regardless of skill level and experience for the sport of track and field.

The Illinois Club Relays hosts hundreds of athletes from across the nation for the biggest indoor club meet in the National Intercollegiate Running Club Association (NIRCA) circuit. Illinois’ win now adds a tally of 14 consecutive wins on the men’s and women’s side, with each year proving more difficult to defend than the last. On the men’s side, the Illini took first with 93 points over Wisconsin Track Club with 81 points in second, and Ohio State Track Club in third with 44 points. On the women’s side, the women won the meet with 96 points, followed by Wisconsin Track Club’s 73 points in second, and University of Minnesota Club taking the bronze in 40 points.

Coming off of COVID, continued outreach and interest for the sport has kept ITFC’s numbers and commitment strong, which resulted in a first place finish for the women’s team at the NIRCA National Championships in Olivet, Michigan last year, and a 5th place finish for the men. Thanks to the commitment of the club’s board and coaches, athletes have continued to get better and better with each following season, developing into vital point-scorers for the club. Take for example their distance coach, Spencer Nelson. Spencer’s first Club Relays in 2019 had him compete in the mile run for a time of 4:40.17, being ITFC’s seventh finisher in the event. Fast forward to this year, Spencer has improved dramatically, being a part of the mile relay team that earned him a spot on our scoring team as the fourth runner for the Illini, with a new personal best of 4:28.71 in the same event.

Meet records that are often thought to be near-unbreakable continuously are shattered in later years. The women’s 4x200m proved to be no example, as the team of underclassmen in Melissa Aninagyei-Bonsu, Ari Afolabi, Ninawa Odicho, and veteran Maria Becerra took down the previous club record of 1:48.30 to set a new record of 1:47.48. Ari and Ninawa were vital parts of both of those relays, and their continued strength and speed development has been instrumental to the number of times and club records being broken. These women come to practice every day with determination, toughness, and commitment as any pro, but still keep their heads down and look to becoming the best they can be, day in and day out. It’s athletes like these that the club prides themselves on having and keeps the club feeling more like a family than a group of people who like to run.

The entirely student-led club is composed of athletes of varying experience levels and running backgrounds, from previous NCAA athletes, to state meet performers, to those looking for a new hobby to pick up in college. Their coaches are students who simply want to give back to the sport so much that they take on the extra responsibility to ensure their friends and athletes develop into greater athletes and great people.

The club also hosts a number of members from varying majors and backgrounds, like Distance coach Spencer Nelson (Communications), Middle Distance coach Norb Nieves (Psychology – Clinical/Comm Health), Hurdles coach Maria Becerra (Psychology & Spanish), Throws and Head Coach Beau Barber (Agricultural Engineering), Sprints coach Adam Adil (Graphic Design), and Jumps coach Derrick Stokes (Psychology – Industrial/Organizational). This does not even include the multiple other board members that ensure the club and its athletes have a smooth and easy process registering for meets, competing, participating in social events, and much more. While they are all athletes and coaches, they are also friends to the over 100 members of ITFC.

The meet capped off with a few words from their coaches, led by Head Coach Beau Barber, a PhD student who has been on the club longer than anyone else. Beau has seen the club grow over the years into a better and stronger group, both as athletes and as people, and considers the club a second family. To see his athletes, as well as alumni from the program, dawned in their “Illinois Elite” uniforms for their dedication while on the club, is always an experience that fills Beau and the entire team with a renewed love for the sport and reminder of the dedication that each and every member puts in, regardless of the day. This dedication, as always, pushed the Illini to their victories over Wisconsin Track Club for both the men and women’s side, as well as the multitude of strong performances from their club friends and rivals.

Later in the season, ITFC looks to defend their women’s championship and upgrade their men’s placement from last year to make the podium at the 2023 NIRCA Nationals meet. After that, their goal remains unchanged: to continue their streak of Club Relays wins, and keep the sport of track and field alive and well beyond high school running. To join is to gain new friends, new family, and a new determination to become great athletes. To those of you who made the 14th Annual Club Relays a success, we thank you! Here’s to another year of dominance and camaraderie to the orange and blue of ITFC! I-L-L!

Club Website: https://illinoistrackclub.com/