Illini Win 4x200m Relay at Sea Ray Relays

Women's Track & Field April 16, 2011

Illini Win 4x200m Relay at Sea Ray Relays

April 16, 2011

Complete Results

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Illinois won the 4x200m relay and was the top collegiate team in the 4x800m relay to close out the Sea Ray Relays on Saturday. The foursome of sophomore Kayla Smith, seniors Melissa Bates and Cheria Morgan and junior Ashley Kelly cracked the Illinois top-10 list in the 4x200m relay with their winning time of 1:37.91, the ninth-fastest in school history. The 4x800m relay team of junior Latoya Griffith, freshmen Amanda Duvendack and Samantha Murphy and sophomore Stephanie Morgan posted a time of 9:17.21 to finish behind a post-collegiate squad from Knoxville Elite.

"We put together a nice time in the 4x200m and Ashley had a killer anchor leg for us," head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey said. "It was also a nice showing the 4x800m where we were the first collegiate team."

The Illini also earned a second-place finish in the 4x100m relay, as the team of Smith, junior Ashley Kelly, Morgan and Robinson turned in a 45.63 to cross just behind Tennessee (45.15). Sophomore Amber Stack (11:09.91) crossed the line second in the 3,000m steeplechase, and sophomore Kawanna Brooks took fourth in the long jump with a mark of 18-6 ½ (5.65m). Senior Kelly Washington, who posted personal bests in the 60m hurdles and 200m on Friday, notched a mark of 16-10 (5.13m) in the long jump.

"Kawanna and Kelly had really nice meets this weekend," Buford-Bailey said. "Coach Erb has been doing a great job with them as they continue to get better."

A full list of Illinois results from Saturday can be found below. Next week, the Illini will head to Bloomington, Ind., for the Polytan Invitational from April 21-23.

Bizzarri Update
Former Illini Angela Bizzarri was in action on Friday night in Walnut, Calif., at the Mt. SAC Relays, where she raced to a new personal-best time in the 5,000m. The three-time NCAA champion clocked a mark of 15:27.19, nearly six seconds faster than her previous best, to take fifth in the loaded invitational elite section. The Mason, Ohio, native made her professional debut in the 1,500m for Brooks at the Stanford Invitational three weeks ago and competed in the 5,000m for the first time on Friday. Full 5,000m Results

Illinois Saturday Results at the Sea Ray Relays

3,000m Steeplechase
2. Amber Stack 11:09.91
5. Maggie Mulchrone 11:46.53

4x100m Relay
2. Illinois 45.63
(Kayla Smith, Ashley Kelly, Cheria Morgan, Tamika Robinson)