Illinois Dominates Illini Classic

Women's Track & Field January 21, 2012

Illinois Dominates Illini Classic

Jan. 21, 2012

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - For the second consecutive year, the Illinois women's track and field team won 12 of 16 events on Saturday and took the Illini Classic title by scoring 227 points to top the other eight schools competing at the Armory. The Illini won by a 129-point margin as Missouri placed second with 98 points. In addition to the win, Sophomore Stephanie Richartz reset the Illinois school record in the pole vault with a mark of 13-2 ¼ (4.02m).

"I think we had some really good performances." head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey. "We are getting better each week. Overall, I thought we had a solid showing but of course we'd like to improve and move up on the Big Ten list. The whole teams culture is understanding that we mean business from the very beginning."

Richartz reset the school record Saturday as the sophomore was atop the pole vault standings after reaching a height of 13-2 ¼ (4.02m). The Island Lake, Ill., native had set the school record last weekend at the Illini Open with her 4.00m vault.

Sophomore Breeana Coleman turned in a season best performance in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.37 as the Illini went one-two in the event. Jesica Ejesieme set a personal-record in the hurdles, just behind Coleman with a time of 8.41. In the 60m, two Illini set personal-bests as senior Ashley Kelly (7.58) and junior Kayla Smith (7.59) took second and third, respectively.

Freshman Ashley Spencer won the 200m for the second consecutive week, as she set a new career-best in a time of 24.24 while Kelly finished runner-up and recorded another personal-best with a time of 24.56. In the 400m, senior Latoya Griffith notched her second victory of the season as she crossed the finish line with a time of 56.93 while teammate Ryisha Boyd took home the 600m crown (1:32.69), a new personal-best. Jayla McArthur placed second in the event with a time of 1:35.28.

The Illini had solid performances by the middle distance and distance squads as sophomore Amanda Duvendack won the 800m in a time of 2:13.92 while Katie Porada took first in the mile, crossing the finishing line with a time of 4:56.11. Five Illini finished in the top six in the mile.

Three Illini set personal records in the 3,000m with Courtney Yaeger taking first place and the only competitor to crack the 10 minute mark (9:54.18), followed by Meghan Frigo (10:05.96) and Meagan Hynes (10:24.25).

Kawanna Brooks won the triple jump (39-1 ¾) and tied for first in the long jump (18-10 ¾) as the junior's long jump set a career-best. Illinois' Marissa Golliday won the pentathlon with 3,697 total points as the junior won the 800m, high jump, and shot put.

The 4x400m relay squad of Ejesieme, Kelly, Boyd and Spencer closed out the meet with a victory after combining for a time of 3:42.92.

Next week, the Illini will travel to Lincoln, Neb., on Saturday, Jan. 28 to compete in the Mark Colligan Memorial Invitational. The University of Nebraska hosts the 2012 Big Ten Indoor Championships later this season.

Team Standings
1. Illinois 227
2. Missouri 98
3. Northern Illinois 81
4. SIU-Edwardsville 61
5. Murray State 58.50
6. Lincoln (Mo.) 57.50
7. Southeast Missouri 30
8. Tennessee State 7
9. Bradley 3

Illinois First Place Finishers

Pole Vault
Stephanie Richartz, 13 2 ¼ (4.02m)*

60m H
Breeana Coleman, 8.37

200m
Ashley Spencer, 24.24

400m
Latoya Griffith, 56.93

600m
Ryisha Boyd, 1:32.69

800m
Amanda Duvendack, 2:13.92

ile
Katie Porada, 4:56.11

3,000m
Courtney Yaeger, 9:54.18

4x400m relay
Jesica Ejesieme, Ashley Kelly, Ryisha Boyd, Ashley Spencer, 3:42.92

Triple Jump
Kawanna Brooks, 39-1 ¾

Long Jump
Kawanna Brooks, 18-10 ¾