Illini Wrap Up Competition at NCAA Indoors

Women's Track & Field March 10, 2012

Illini Wrap Up Competition at NCAA Indoors

March 10, 2012

NAMPA, Idaho. - The University of Illinois women's track and field team wrapped up competition at the NCAA Indoor Championships on Saturday. The 4x40m relay team of sophomore Jesica Ejesieme, senior's Ashley Kelly and Latoya Griffith and freshman Ashley Spencer finished third in their heat and 11th overall, with a time of 3:36.99. Sophomore Stephanie Richartz finished 12th with a mark of 13-9 ¼ (4.20m).

"I'm proud of the girls who competed today," head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey said. "In everyone's first time at the NCAA Championships, Stephanie and the 4x400m relay squad competed with guts and did the best they could. They got great experience around amazing athletes here at the national championships."

Freshman Spencer recorded the fastest split on the anchor leg of the 4x400m team with a time of 52.74. The squad's time at the national championships ranks the sixth fastest in the school record books while Richartz' mark was her third highest this season.

LSU's 4x400m squad won the national title and set a new Jacksons Indoor Track facility record with a time of 3:31.89 while Arkansas' Tina Sutej took home the pole vault crown with a mark of 14-7 ¼ (4.45m).

Up Next: Illinois will begin the outdoor season at the UCF Black and Gold Challenge on Saturday, March 17 in Orlando, Fla.

NCAA Finals in the 4x400m Relay
1. LSU - 3:31.89
2. Texas - 3:32.36
3. Kansas - 3:33.13
11. Illinois - 3:36.69

NCAA Finals in the Pole Vault
1. Tina Sutej, Arkansas - 14-7 ¼ (4.45m)
2. Morgann Leleux, Georgia - 14-5 ¼ (4.40m)
3. Katerina Stefanidi, Stanford - 14-3 ¼ (4.35m)
12. Stephanie Richartz, Illinois - 13-9 ¼ (4.20m)

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