March 29, 2014

ASU Invitational Results

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The University of Illinois women's track and field team began the outdoor season this weekend at the Arizona State Invitational. The Illini placed fourth with 85.5 points in a tough field that included No. 6 Arizona and No. 21 Arizona State. Illinois recorded 12 top-five finishes, including first-place finishes by Jesica Ejesieme and Britten Petrey, while four Illini entered the record books with marks that rank among the top-10 in program history.

Jesica Ejesieme captured two event titles for the Illini, placing first in both the 100m hurdles (13.69) and the 400m hurdles (59.12). Two other Illini notched top-five finishes in the 100m hurdles as Mobolaji Adeokun clocked a personal best time of 14.01 to place second, while Samone Thompson (14.29) finished fifth. Britten Petrey placed first in the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 11:03.62.

Alyssa Schneider led the Illini in the 1,500m, clocking a personal best time of 4:23.52 to place second. After entering the record books in three events during the indoor season, she is now tied for the ninth-fastest outdoor 1,500m time in school history. Stephanie Morgan placed fifth in the event with a time of 4:26.47. Chloe Schmidt also entered the record books this weekend after placing fifth in the 800m. Her personal best time of 2:07.37 is the eighth-fastest time in school history. Kymbriona Taylor placed second in the 200m after clocking an 11.86.

Mariah Smith had a big day in the field events for the Illini, setting new personal-bests in two events and notching a fifth-place finish in the discus. Her mark of 48.71m is tied for the fourth-best in school history. Kristen Wilson set a personal-best in the shot put, placing eighth with a mark of 14.27m, the seventh-best mark in school history. The Illini also got top-five finishes from Jennifer DeBellis (second) in the pole vault and Kandie Bloch-Jones (fifth) in the high jump.

The Illini will be back in action next weekend when they travel to Auburn, Ala. or the Tiger Track Classic on April 4-5.

Final Team Scores
1. Arizona State 186
2. Arizona 115
3. Iowa 106
4. Illinois 85.5
5. Utah 57.5

Illinois Top-Five Finishes
100m
2. Kymbriona Taylor, 11.86

100m hurdles
1. Jesica Ejesieme, 13.69
2. Mobolaji Adeokun, 14.01
5. Samone Thompson, 14.29

400m hurdles
1. Jesica Ejesieme, 59.12

800m
5. Chloe Schmidt, 2:07.37

1,500m
2. Alyssa Schneider, 4:23.52
5. Stephanie Morgan, 4:26.47

3,000m Steeplechase
1. Britten Petrey, 11:03.62

Pole Vault
2. Jennifer DeBellis, 3.85m

High Jump
5. Kandie Bloch-Jones, 1.66m

Discus
5. Mariah Smith, 48.71m