Ashley Spencer did it again.

The Illinois women’s track sophomore defended her 400-meter national title at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Friday.

Spencer crossed the finish line in 50.28 seconds, a new school record, as well as fourth-best in NCAA history and fifth-best in the world this year. The now two-time NCAA champion and 12-time Big Ten champion was named an All-American for the fourth time in her collegiate career.

The Illini finished 14th overall with 22 team points and nine All-American accolades.

In addition to the 400-meter dash finish, Spencer and her teammates garnered All-American honors in the 1600-meter relay, breaking a school record with a time of 3 minutes, 29.28 seconds and finishing fifth in the nation. The team of Marissa Golliday, Ahlivia Spencer, Ashley Spencer and Morolake Akinosun also broke the school record with a time of 3:30.54 in the qualifiers. Their record-breaking run marked the fourth time this season that the Illini had broken the school record in this event.

Newly crowned Big Ten champion Samantha Murphy earned first team All-American honors in the 800-meter run, with a school-record 2:02.10. 

Multi-event athlete Golliday earned second team All-American honors for her individual performance in the high jump, with her lifetime-best jump of 1.80 meters ranked as the fifth-best jump in school history. 

Pole vaulter Stephanie Richartz was named an All-American for the first time in her collegiate career. The junior finished with a high mark of 4.30 meters, a personal best.

In the 100-meter dash, Akinosun was named an All-American for her eight-place finish in the event, with a time of 11.45 seconds. She was the only freshman to qualify for the 100 meters or 200 meters competitions in Eugene. 

Overall, the Illini had a total of seven athletes competing in seven events and only failed to make the final in one of those events, Akinosun’s 200 meters. 

Lanre can be reached at [email protected] and @WriterLanre.