Nearly four months after opening the 2024 track and field season at home, the Illini return to Champaign this Saturday for the final meet of the regular season in the Fighting Illini Tune-Up.
The team will use this meet as one final benchmark as they head into the postseason. Almost everyone will be competing for the first time in two weeks or longer, with the lone exception of freshman Javaris Ambrose, who placed fourth (61.08 meters) in the hammer throw at last week’s Drake Relays. Ambrose’s mark is also the sixth-best hammer throw distance in program history.
The rest of the team will be back in action for the first time since the Mt. SAC Relays, where many, such as junior Jackson Marseille and senior Jack Roberts, performed admirably against some of the toughest competition of the year.
In contrast to the small field last weekend, Illinois will have entries in 14 of the 18 men’s events, and 23 different athletes competing overall. That group includes a trio consisting of seniors Aiden Ouimet and Tyler Sudduth, and freshman Daniel Lucas, who will be competing in the discus. This Saturday will be Lucas’ fourth outdoor event as an Illini, and after recording his first collegiate discus throw at the Gary Wieneke Memorial last month, he will be looking to improve his personal best.
Freshman Kyle Clark will have competed in three different events across the past two meets when he races in the 1500-meter and 4×400-meter relay this Saturday. Clark found success in the 1500-meter at the Gary Wieneke Memorial last month, where he placed fourth (3 minutes and 47.95 seconds). Clark is coming off his first collegiate appearance in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the Mt. SAC Relays as well.
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Freshman Jackson Gilbert will have a busy day, as he is set to compete in three events: the 200-meter, 400-meter and 4×400-meter relay. Gilbert is the lone Illini entry in both the 200 and 400, and will be running the first leg of the 4×400 meter relay for the “A” team.
Joining Gilbert on the “A” team is fellow freshman Michail Rose, who is also competing in three events this Saturday. Rose will be running both the 110 and 400-meter hurdles, along with the 4×400-meter relay.
The meet is set to kick off at 11 a.m. with the men’s shot put and women’s discus and takes place at Demirjian Park. The meet will feature both senior recognition for Illinois seniors and Junior Day for high school juniors. Forecasts call for temperatures in the low-70s when the meet starts and could climb up to 80 degrees by the meet’s end. Wind speeds should be within legal limits, but there is a slight possibility of wind-assistance affecting some marks.
