2026 Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships Recap: Day Two
Illinois women jump into lead on second day; Oregon men hold steady
LINCOLN, Neb. – After an additional nine chances for points between men’s and women’s competitions, Oregon men still lead the field with 55 points. Minnesota (41 points) and USC (30 points) each had solid days of competition to stay within range for the final day. On the women’s side, Illinois jumped out to the lead with 73 points. Washington earned six more points to stay in second place with 66 total, followed by Minnesota with 48 points.
Four individual champions were crowned on the men’s side in the decathlon, discus, long jump and 3,000m steeplechase — while five individual champions were determined on the women’s side in the heptathlon, shot put, high jump, long jump and 3,000m steeplechase.
In the women’s long jump, Rutgers’ Celine Brown claimed gold with a mark of 6.48m (21-3 ¼). She became the first Scarlet Knight to win a Big Ten title since Chloe Timberg won pole vault in 2024.
UCLA’s Valentina Fakrogha claimed the women’s high jump title with a meet record jump of 1.89m (6-2 ¼). Illinois added 18 points to its total in the event, as Rose Yeboah (2nd), Siun Quinn (3rd) and Emma Haeggblom (5th) all earned podium finishes.
Nebraska’s Axelina Johansson won the women’s shot put title, which became her sixth Big Ten title as a Husker. Her mark of 19.97m (65-6 ¼) was a meet record, Big Ten overall record and a Swedish national record.
Both the heptathlon and decathlon, which began on Friday morning and concluded Saturday evening with victories by Illinois in both. JaiCieonna Gero-Holt scored first in high jump and shot put to claim the heptathlon. Luuk Pelkmans tallied a winning score of 8004 with first place finishes in shot put and the 1500m.
Minnesota’s Charles Godfred, who won the men’s long jump title in 2025, repeated his success with a winning jump of 7.99m (26-2 ¾). Michigan (second, sixth) and Rutgers (third, seventh) each had two podium finishers as well.
USC went 1-2 in men’s discus, as Racquil Broderick led the way for the Trojans with a throw of 62.80m (206-0). His freshman teammate Mico Lampien recorded a personal best 59.81m (196-2).
To conclude the evening’s running events, both the men’s and women’s 3,000m steeplechase took place. Michigan State’s Katelyn Stewart-Barnett cruised to a victory, as her time of 9:44.32 was a season best and beat the next-best runner by over 13 seconds. The men’s side was a tighter contest, as Oregon’s Benjamin Balazs’ time of 8:49.02 narrowly beat Minnesota’s Emmett Gerres.
Starting at 12:30 p.m. CT tomorrow, Big Ten Network will broadcast track events. 26 total finals events will take place, and team winners will be crowned after the conclusion of the 4x400m relays.
Team Standings
Men’s After Seven Events
1. Oregon — 55
2. Minnesota — 41
3. USC — 30
4. Nebraska — 28
5. Washington — 25
6. Iowa — 18
7. Penn State — 13
8. Michigan — 8
Michigan State — 8
Rutgers — 8
11. Illinois — 10
12. Indiana — 6
Purdue — 6
14. Ohio State — 5
15. Wisconsin — 3
— Maryland
— UCLA
Women’s After Nine Events
1. Illinois— 73
2. Washington — 66
3. Minnesota — 48
4. Nebraska — 46
5. Michigan State — 19
Oregon — 19
7. UCLA — 11.5
8. Rutgers — 10
9. Penn State — 9
USC — 9
11. Ohio State — 8
Wisconsin — 8
13. Purdue — 7.5
14. Iowa — 7
15. Michigan — 5
16. Northwestern — 4
17. Indiana — 1
— Maryland
Big Ten Championships – Saturday Event Winners
Women:
Heptathlon: JaiCieonna Gero-Holt, ILL — 5994
Long Jump: Celine Brown, RU — 6.48m (21-3 ¼)
High Jump: Valentina Fakrogha, UCLA — 1.89m (6-2 ¼)*
Shot Put: Axelina Johansson, NEB — 19.97m (65-6 ¼)*
3,000m Steeplechase: Katelyn Stewart-Barnett, MSU — 9:44.32
Men:
Decathlon: Luuk Pelkmaans, ILL — 8004
Long Jump: Celine Brown, RU — 6.48m (21-3 ¼)
Discus: Racquil Broderick, USC — 62.80m (206-0)
3,000m Steeplechase: Benjamin Balazs, ORE — 8:49.02
* indicates a Big Ten Outdoor Championship meet record
^ indicates an NCAA record