May 27, 2006

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Fighting Illini women's track and field team finished up competition today at the NCAA Mideast Regional in Knoxville, Tenn. Junior Yvonne Mensah placed first in the triple jump, breaking an NCAA Mideast Regional record as well as an Illinois outdoor record, and securing her spot at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Camile Robinson and Cassie Hunt will join Mensah at the Championships with the possibility of five more athletes advancing to the Championships, depending on at-large bids.

"This was a good day today," head coach Gary Winckler said. "We got a lot of things done today and everything went pretty much as expected."

On the field, the Orange and Blue dominated the triple jump with three athletes scoring for the Illini by placing in the top eight. Mensah placed first with a jump of 13.45 meters, a new NCAA Mideast Regional Championships record and a new Illinois school outdoor record. Nina Henson, a senior, recorded a jump of 12.61 meters to place seventh, with junior Kristina Jones right behind her jumping 12.60 meters, a season best for Jones, for eighth place. Mensah also recorded a time of 11.79 in the 100-meter dash, good for seventh place.

"The triple jumpers all had the best jumps of their season today," Winckler said. "Yvonne's race was pretty dramatic and a lot of fun," Winckler said.

Juniors Camile Robinson and Carlene Robinson placed fifth and seventh, respectively, in the 400-meter hurdles. Camile Robinson ran a time of 57.01, a season best, and Carlene Robinson recorded a time of 59.37.

In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, junior Cassie Hunt placed third for the Fighting Illini to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Hunt ran a rime of 10:13.81, and she was one of four athletes to run a time faster than the previous track record at the Tom Black Track in Knoxville, Tenn.

To finish out the day, the 4x400-meter relay team of freshman Omoye Ugiagbe, Mensah, Carlene Robinson and Camile Robinson finished fourth with a time of 3:34.21, just four-tenths of a second behind the third-place team and a season-best performance that places them fifth on the all-time outdoor record list for the 4x400-meter relay.

"Yvonne and Camile both did tremendous today," said Winckler. "Camile did a great job in the anchor position of the 4x400-meter relay."

Three athletes will compete for the Orange and Blue at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 7-10 in Sacrmento, Calif., with the possibility of additional athletes to compete in five events depending on at-large bids. For full results, check www.utsports.com.