May 31, 2008

Complete Results

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Freshmen Danelle Woods and Chantelle Groenewoud finished first and second in the 3,000m steeplechase while senior LaNeisha Waller qualified for nationals in the 100m hurdles for the Illinois women's track and field team on Saturday at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships at John McDonnell Field. Illinois also finished fifth as a team at regionals, its highest finish ever.

The top five individuals and top three relays in every event at the regional championships received automatic bids to the NCAA Championships, which will be held from June 11-14 in Des Moines, Iowa.

"This is the best regional finish I've ever had as a coach," head coach Gary Winckler said. "It's super to have two freshmen finish first and second in the steeple, and LaNeisha (Waller) ran the best race of her career. We got as many people to nationals as we thought we would. It was a great day."

Woods timed 10 minutes, 32.83 seconds (10:32.83) to take the steeplechase title. The Ottawa, Ontario native came into the event ranked first in the region, and led for the duration of the race. Woods joins teammate Angela Bizzarri as a regional champion. Bizzarri won the 5,000m on Friday night, and is also headed to the NCAA Championships.

"I was just trying to go out there and compete and get to nationals," Woods said. "Once I broke off from the pack, I felt comfortable and relaxed and got to control the race. I'm really proud of Chantelle finishing second. It will be great to have her to compete with at NCAAs."

Groenewoud, also a freshman and Canadian native, snuck into the runner-up position in the steeplechase with a strong finish. With approximately 150 meters to go she stood in sixth, but cleared the final barrier and sprinted ahead to narrowly finish second with a time of 10:35.88 that edged out Michigan State's Sarah Price (10:35.91, 3rd), Missouri State's Jamie Vest (10:35.94, 4th), Arkansas' Megan Jackson (10:35.94, 5th) and Wisconsin's Sarah Hurley (10:36.00, 6th).

Waller earned her second consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships by placing fifth in the 100m hurdles. The senior ran the fastest two races of her career this weekend, timing 12.94 in the final to better her personal-best ran on Friday. LSU's Nickiesha Wilson took the 100m hurdles title in 12.63.

Senior Briana Cunningham and sophomore Aja Evans will have to wait until next week to see if they earn at-large bids to the NCAA Championships, as both finished sixth in their respective events. Cunningham timed 58.20 in the 400m hurdles final, but owns a personal-best time of 57.90 ran on Friday in prelims that should be fast enough to earn a national bid.

Evans was sixth in the shot put with a distance of 53 feet, 4 1/2 inches, but is all but assured an at-large spot to nationals. The Chicago native was ranked eighth in the country in the event going into regionals with a distance of 55'10.5".

The Illini 4x100m relay of Tiara Armstrong, Waller, Cheria Morgan and Tamika Robinson was seventh in a time of 45.65, while sophomore Katie Engel was ninth in the 1,500m final (4:30.18).

Illinois NCAA Mideast Regional Championships Saturday Results

1,500m (FINAL)
9. Katie Engel 4:30.18

3,000m Steeplechase (FINAL)
1. Danelle Woods 10:32.83
2. Chantelle Groenewould 10:35.88

100m Hurdles (FINAL)
5. LaNeisha Waller 12.94

400m Hurdles (FINAL)
6. Briana Cunningham 58.20

4x100m Relay (FINAL)
7. Illinois 45.65
(Tiara Armstrong, LaNeisha Waller, Cheria Morgan, Tamika Robinson)

Shot Put (FINAL)
6. Aja Evans 53'4.5" (16.27m)

NCAA Mideast Regional Championships Women's Top Ten Team Standings

1. LSU 119
2. Tennessee 66
3. Mississippi 49
4. Michigan 41
5. ILLINOIS 40
6. Purdue 32
7. Arkansas 27
8. Louisville 26
9. Alabama 23
10. Ohio State 22