Full Results
EUGENE, Ore. – Fighting Illini high jumper Kandie Bloch-Jones and 100m hurdler Pedrya Seymour both earned their first outdoor All-American honors as NCAA Outdoor Championships concluded at historic Hayward Field. Bloch-Jones earned Second Team All-American honors, while Seymour was unable to finish in the 100m hurdles after clipping the second hurdle, but still finished as a First Team All-American.
"Leaving here with multiple athletes having had the chance to scored, a little sting will motivate them to come back and bring their teammates with them," said Head Coach Ron Garner. "They'll go back and be multipliers now. We've got people at home that are hungry to be here too. We just need to grow now and capitalize on opportunities. We're moving in a very positive direction."
Bloch-Jones tied for 15th overall in the high jump, as she set a season-best outdoor mark of 5'10" (1.78m) on her third attempt at that height. However, the Argenta, Illinois native was unable to clear 5'11.5" (1.82m) on her three attempts. Bloch-Jones opened competition by clearing 5'8" (1.73m) on her first attempt.
"Kandie did a nice job today," said Garner. "She just came up one miss short [of scoring points]. In fact, she actually clipped the bar on the way down. I'm really pleased the way she has focused this outdoor season."
The Second Team All-American honor is the third of Bloch-Jones career, and her first during the outdoor season.
Racing in the 100m hurdle final, Seymour stumbled after clearing the first hurdle and was unable to clear the second hurdle cleanly and was unable to finish the race. However, by advancing to the event final, Seymour earned First Team All-American honors.
"She's had an incredible and unmarked path," said Garner. "She's done a beautiful job this year. It's unfortunate because she could have been on the podium. I'm sure she'll take that and grow. To be in that field, to be where she's at, with the poise she has, she's in a good place going forward."
Seymour, a red-shirt sophomore, advanced to the final on Thursday night after clocking the third-fastest qualifying time, a personal-best 12.86 time that broke her own Bahamian record and ranks third in Illinois history.
The Nassau, Bahamas native will continue competition this summer as she prepares to represent the Bahamas in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
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