DePaul University Athletics
Friday, May 8
Champaign, Ill.
DePaul University
at
Illini Tune-Up
Track and Field Caps Illini Tune-Up Friday
5/8/2026 6:41:00 PM | TRACK AND FIELD
Blue Demons add final meet ahead of BIG EAST Championships
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – DePaul track and field made a late addition to its regular season schedule on Friday, sending three student-athletes to the Illini Tune-Up at Illinois for one final opportunity to improve national and conference positioning in the field events ahead of next week's BIG EAST Outdoor Championships.
Alex Bernstein continued his historic outdoor campaign in the hammer throw, winning the event with a mark of 71.84m. The throw extended his own school record by more than half a meter and maintained his No. 9 national standing while solidifying his position at No. 6 in the NCAA West Region qualifying rankings heading toward postseason competition.
In the women's hammer throw, Elena Opp placed sixth with a mark of 53.81m, finishing just shy of her personal best. The senior still sits atop the BIG EAST performance list this outdoor season with a lead of nearly three meters over the next closest competitor.
Katelyn Welsh added a sixth-place finish in the pole vault after clearing 3.82m, finishing just .01m shy of matching her personal best and DePaul school record mark.
Friday marked the final tune-up before the Blue Demons head to UConn for the 2026 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships, May 14-16.
Final Results - Friday, May 8
Illini Tune-Up
Champaign, Ill. - Demirjian Park
Men's Hammer Throw: 1. Alex Bernstein - 71.84m (PR, School Record)
Women's Hammer Throw: 6. Elena Opp - 53.81m
Women's Pole Vault: 6. Katelyn Welsh - 3.82m
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all of the latest on DePaul Cross Country, Track & Field, stay tuned to DePaulBlueDemons.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Alex Bernstein continued his historic outdoor campaign in the hammer throw, winning the event with a mark of 71.84m. The throw extended his own school record by more than half a meter and maintained his No. 9 national standing while solidifying his position at No. 6 in the NCAA West Region qualifying rankings heading toward postseason competition.
In the women's hammer throw, Elena Opp placed sixth with a mark of 53.81m, finishing just shy of her personal best. The senior still sits atop the BIG EAST performance list this outdoor season with a lead of nearly three meters over the next closest competitor.
Katelyn Welsh added a sixth-place finish in the pole vault after clearing 3.82m, finishing just .01m shy of matching her personal best and DePaul school record mark.
Friday marked the final tune-up before the Blue Demons head to UConn for the 2026 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships, May 14-16.
Final Results - Friday, May 8
Illini Tune-Up
Champaign, Ill. - Demirjian Park
Men's Hammer Throw: 1. Alex Bernstein - 71.84m (PR, School Record)
Women's Hammer Throw: 6. Elena Opp - 53.81m
Women's Pole Vault: 6. Katelyn Welsh - 3.82m
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all of the latest on DePaul Cross Country, Track & Field, stay tuned to DePaulBlueDemons.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ TRACK AND FIELD
Throws
/ TRACK AND FIELD
Pole Vault
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