Full Results
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois combined events crew completed their heptathlons and pentathlons today (Jan. 23) at the UI Armory. Freshman Luuk Pelkmans broke the program record heptathlon in his debut with 6,127 points.
Not only is Pelkmans' point total a school record it's currently the second-best score for a Dutch heptathlete all-time, NCAA leader and No. 2 score in the world. The only mark higher than his in the world currently belongs to assistant coach Heath Baldwin who won today's competition as the world leader with 6,224 points. Jip de Greef placed third in the heptathlon with 5,997 points which is the No. 3 mark in the NCAA for 2026 thus far.
On the women's side in the pentathlon assistant coach Cheyenne Nesbitt won the competition with 4,346 points which is the second highest score in the world so far. Lucie Kienast is the new NCAA leader with her score of 4,316 points which earned her second place today.
Freshman JaiCieonna Gero-Holt made her pentathlon debut today where she scored 4,229 points which is the second-best score in program history and the current NCAA number two score as well. She also set a top-10 program mark in the high jump where she cleared 1.84m (6-0 1/2) which is the sixth best in program history.
UP NEXT
The rest of the Illinois track and field team returns to action tomorrow (Jan. 24) for the final day of the Fighting Illini Challenge and Combined Events. Field events are slated to begin at 10 a.m. and track events begin at 12 p.m. CT.
RESULTS
Heptathlon
Heath Baldwin – First (6,224 points) World Leader
- Won the 60mH (7.97)
- Placed second in the 1000m (2:44.14)
- Placed third in the pole vault, 4.80m (15-9)
Luuk Pelkmans – Second (6,127 points) School Record
- Won the 1000m (2:38.33)
- Placed second in the pole vault, 4.90m (16-0 3/4)
- Placed fourth in the 60mH (8.14)
Jip de Greef – Third (5,997 points)
- Won the pole vault, 4.90m (16-0 3/4)
- Placed third in the 1000m (2:45.96)
- Placed second in the 60mH (8.12)
Pentathlon
Cheyenne Nesbitt – First (4,346 points) World No. 2
- Won the 60mH (8.26)
- Won the 800m (2:18.06)
- Placed second in the long jump, 6.07m (19-11)
- Placed second in the shot put, 13.32m (43-8 1/2)
- Placed third in the high jump, 1.69m (5-6 1/2)
Lucie Kienast – Second (4,316 points) NCAA Leader
- Won the long jump, 6.28m (20-7 1/4)
- Placed second in the 800m (2:18.46)
- Placed second in the high jump, 1.75m (5-8 3/4)
- Placed fourth in the shot put, 12.52m (41-1)
- Placed ninth in the 60mH (8.94)
JaiCieonna Gero-Holt – Third (4,229 points) Illinois No. 2
- Won the high jump on program's sixth-best clearance, 1.84m (6-0 1/2)
- Placed third in the 60mH (8.59)
- Placed third in the shot put, 13.88m (45-6 1/2)
- Placed fourth in the long jump, 5.64m (18-6)
- Placed sixth in the 800m (2:31.37)
Kristine Blazevica – DNF
- Placed fifth in the shot put, 12.03m (39-5 3/4)
- Placed seventh in the 60mH (8.84)
- Placed seventh in the high jump, 1.63m (5-4 1/4)
Meagan Humphries – DNF
- Placed fourth in the 60mH (8.61)
- placed third in the high jump 1.69m (5-6 1/2)
- Placed ninth in the shot put, 11.00m (36-1 1/4)
Melissa Wullschleger – DNF
- Placed second in the 60mH (8.57)
- Placed ninth in the high jump, 1.57m (5-1 3/4)
