March 27, 2005

Illinois' women's track team began its outdoor season this weekend in Tucson, Ariz. which concluded Saturday with the Jim Click Shootout. The Illini won the high jump and the javelin, had regional qualifying times in three events and performed well in the heptathlon. Freshman Mariesa Greene was Saturday's standout, winning the high jump and the javelin while earning a regional qualifying mark in the high jump.

"Our heptathletes had a really good meet," head coach Gary Winckler said. "Our field marks were very good for this time of the season. It was about 65 degrees which is cool for Arizona, but it was a good opening weekend for us and it will prepare us well for UCLA in two weeks."

Greene led the list of regional qualifiers, clearing 1.75m in the high jump while Shanna Pickett jumped 6.02m to finish second and regionally qualify in the long jump and Nina Henson, who competed at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the triple jump, leapt 12.93m to regionally qualify in the event in her hometown.

Other top-five finishers included Ashley Hanshaw (second) and Amanda Pintaro (fourth) in the pole vault and the 4x400m team of Pickett, Natalie Young, Tiffany Nesfield and Laura Gerke which placed second. Greene also won the javelin competition in her first attempt at the event.

The Illini are back in action in two weeks in Los Angeles at UCLA.