March 19, 2010
Results
FORT WORTH, Texas - The Illinois women's track and field team kicked off the outdoor season with a number of solid performances at the Horned Frog Invitational, including three event titles on Friday. Junior Tamika Robinson easily won the 100m hurdles with a personal-best time of 13.29, sophomore Latoya Griffith took home the 400m hurdles victory with a time of 59.67 and junior Kaitlin Vicari was the pole vault champion with a personal-best mark of 11-3 ¾ (3.45m) at the Lowden Track and Field Complex.
"Tamika ran a wind-aided personal best, Latoya ran her fastest-ever opener and Kaitlin had a personal best," head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey said. "We also had some fun 4x400m relays that allowed everyone to get outside and start running on the track. The relays were really one of our best team-bonding activities and really got the crowd into it."
Illinois ran six 4x400m relay teams in total, which allowed the majority of the team to get out on the track and compete at the season-opening meet, which included four other squads in North Texas, Oklahoma, Texas-Arlington and host Texas Christian.
The Orange and Blue also boasted three of the top four pole vaulters, as freshman Elizabeth Eitzen took second with a mark of 10-10 (3.30m) and fellow freshman Maria Scheet was fourth at 10-4 (3.15m). Sophomore Jayla McArthur placed third in the 400m hurdles with a personal-best time of 1:03.95, and Robinson also ran the 200m, turning in a wind-aided time of 24.91.
The Illini will continue to train down in Texas during the spring break week and will have next weekend off. Their next meet will be the Mike Poehlein Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind., on April 3.
