March 11, 2006

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Head coach Gary Winckler's Fighting Illini traveled to Fayetteville, Ark. Saturday to finish off an already successful indoor season at the NCAA Championships. Junior Yvonne Mensah led the way for the Illini by reaching All-American status in the triple jump.

"Yvonne did great today," Winckler said. "She has only been triple jumping for a few months now and it's really nice to see her finish off the season the way she did."

Junior Yvonne Mensah, who just began her jumping career earlier this season, was the lone athlete for the Illini to reach All-American status over the weekend. Her jump of 13.20m (43'03.75") was good to finish fifth in her flight and eight overall.

Mensah also competed in the 4x400-meter relay with freshman Omoye Ugiagbe and sophomores Carlene Robinson and Camile Robinson. The relay team finished third in their heat and 11th overall with a time of 3:36.71.

"The race went very well," Winckler said. "It was a very tough heat and we finished where we hoped to finish."

The time of 3:36.71 is the second best time in school history behind the relay of Baine, McClatchey, Carr and Mondie-Milner who recorded a 3:36.21 back in 1989.

Junior Cassie Hunt led the Illini in the distance events as she finished 12th overall with a 9:29.72 in the 3,000-meter run.

The conclusion of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships marks the end of a very successful indoor season and the start of a very promising outdoor season for the Illini. Illinois' outdoor season begins April 1 at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

"We are always looking forward to outdoors," Winckler said. "We really don't go too hard for the indoor season, so we are very happy with what we accomplished. Our team is better suited for outdoors so we are looking forward to it."