April 27, 2007

Results

Berkeley, Calif. - The Illini women's track & field squad performed well during the first day of the California Collegiate Challenge, hosted by the University of California at Edwards Stadium in Berkeley, Calif. Seven UI athletes competed in six events today, combining for one victory, a tied school record, two regional qualifying marks, two personal bests and three season's bests.

The first running event of today's meet schedule was the 3,000m steeplechase and freshman Taylor Bennett set the tone for the Illini, winning the title with a regional qualifying time of 10:48.47.

"That was a great performance by Taylor, in only the second steeple race of her college career," head coach Gary Winckler said. "She dropped over 30 seconds from the time she ran last week at the Kansas Relays in setting a big personal best."

Also posting a regional qualifying mark was junior Ashley Whittaker, who finished sixth in the pole vault with a vault of 12 feet, 5 ½ inches. In addition to qualifying for regionals, that mark tied Whittaker's school record in the event outdoors. Sophomore Jacqueline Ziegler also competed in the pole vault, tying her season-best mark of 11 feet, 5 ¾ inches to finish 15th.

Junior Mariesa Greene nearly gave the Illini a second event winner, as she finished second in the high jump, tying her season's best by clearing 5 feet, 7 inches.

Running the 5,000m for the first time this season, senior Stephanie Simms placed third with a time of 17:04.68.

Freshman Danyelle Michelini recorded a personal best in the discus, finishing 19th with a throw of 107 feet. Also in the field, senior Kristina Jones was 19th in the long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 10 ¾ inches.

"This was a very encouraging start to the meet, and now we've got to carry it over to Saturday," Winckler said. "We've got a big day ahead of us."

The California Collegiate Challenge concludes on Saturday, with a total of 21 Illini athletes competing in 10 different events. Livestats for the meet are available by clicking here.

Illinois Results from Day One of California Collegiate Challenge
5,000m Run
3.   Stephanie Simms     17:04.68
3,000m Steeplechase
1.   Taylor Bennett      10:48.47 R
High Jump
2.   Mariesa Greene      5-7 (1.70m)
Pole Vault
6.   Ashley Whittaker    12-5 ½ (3.80m) R
15.  Jacqueline Ziegler  11-5 ¾ (3.50m)
Long Jump
19.  Kristina Jones      17-10 ¾ (5.45m)
Discus
19.  Danyelle Michelini  107-0 (32.61m)