Jan. 14, 2006
Final Stats
Iowa City, Iowa -
The Fighting Illini Women's Track and Field team opened up the 2006 indoor season successfully Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Iowa Open in Iowa City. Illinois managed to rack up five first-place, six second-place and seven third-place finishes.
Head coach Gary Winckler was satisfied with the effort put forth by his athletes as well their fitness levels coming into the season.
"We had a great day," said Winckler. "It was a solid meet to open the season with. We look in better shape at this point in time compared to the shape we were in at the beginning of last season."
Sophomore Ashley Hanshaw led the Illini into the 2006 season by taking first in the pole vault with a school record-breaking vault of 3.80m (12' 05.50"). Fellow field eventer, senior Nina Henson placed first in the triple jump with a leap of 12.11m (39' 08.75") and second in the long jump (5.41m; 17'9.00").
Along with Hanshaw and Henson's performance in the field events, sophomore Mariesa Green and junior Kristina Jones also put up some impressive marks. Green finished second in the high jump with a mark of 1.60m (5' 03.00") with Jones taking the third-place position with a jump of 1.55, (5'01.00"). Jones grabbed another third-place finish in the triple jump with a mark of 11.70m (38' 04.75").
On the track, the Illini were just as explosive, sweeping the 400-meters and the 60-meter hurdles. Sophomore Carlene Robinson, freshman Omoye Ugiagbe and sophomore Briana Cunningham swept the 400-meters, with Robinson finishing first (57.41).
Sophomore LaNeisha Waller led the Illini in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.71. Sophomores Camile Robinson and Tiffany Nesfield finished second and third, respectively (8.79, 8.90).
Junior Yvonne Mensah has a couple of impressive performances in her first two sprints of the season, taking first in the 60-meters (7.49) and second in the 200-meters (24.88).
Illinois will spend the week preparing for the Illinois Invitational, which they host next Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Armory Track on the campus of the University of Illinois. The meet kicks off at 9 a.m.
