Jan. 31, 2004
Final Stats
Illinois' women's track team won the Illinois Invitational Saturday afternoon at the UI Armory, edging out Southeast Missouri State, 160-141. The Fighting Illini racked up 16 top-three finishes, including five that were first place. Finishing behind Southeast Missouri State were Southwest Missouri State with 83 points and Iowa with 51 points.
Illini freshman Cassie Hunt was the focus of today's most exciting race. In the 3000m run, Hunt broke into her own in the sixth lap of the 15 lap race, running at a pace that would have eclipsed the Illinois record in the event, but the Roachdale, Ind. native finished at 9:37.14, less than two seconds behind the 16-year old mark.
Another freshman, Yvonne Mensah, continued her stellar rookie season, winning the 200m dash and setting a new personal best in the 60m hurdles, coming in at 8.48 seconds. Coming into the meet, Mensah was already the Big Ten's top 60m hurdler and her time today set a new personal best. The Surrey, British Columbia native was second in the event behind former Illini and 2003 World Champion Perdita Felicien who set a new Armory record, speeding down the track in 7.99 seconds.
In the 400m, sophomore Kimetha Williams ran a career-best time of 56.36, the second consecutive meet she has set a new personal best.
Sophomore Audrey Lickhart won the 600m in a time of 1:36.23, just .23 seconds off her career-best.
Illinois' final victory was in the 4x400m relay, as Pickett, Williams, Lickhart and Laura Gerke finished three and a half seconds ahead of a team from Southeast Missouri State.
The Orange and Blue were strong in the field as well, with junior Marie Hilmersson taking second in the 20-pound weight throw with a toss of 56'09.50", setting a new season-high by almost two feet. In the triple jump sophomore Nina Henson was second with a leap of 39'01.75", which was less than a foot behind Illini record holder Nicole Whitman who took top honors.
Complete results can be found on the schedule page of www.fightingillini.com.
Illinois is back in action next Saturday, Feb. 7th, when they host the Carle/Health Alliance Invitational at the UI Armory.
