Petrey, Smith Score for Illinois on Day Two of Big Ten Championships

Saturday, May 16

East Lansing, Mich.

All Day

University of Illinois

Big Ten Outdoor Championships

Petrey, Smith Score for Illinois on Day Two of Big Ten Championships

May 16, 2015 | Women's Track & Field

Berry, Duvendack qualify for finals

EAST LANSING, Mich. - On the second day of the 2015 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Fighting Illini women's track and field team had a pair of student-athletes score points for the team and another pair qualify for Sunday's finals.

Both Britten Petrey and Mariah Smith earned Big Ten place-winner honors for the first time in their careers on Saturday. Petrey used a strong kick in the final lap of the 3,000m steeplechase to finish in a personal-best time of 10:30.84, while Smith recorded a toss of 49.55m (162' 7") in the discus. Both Petrey and Smith finished in eighth place, earning the Illini a total of two point in the team standings.

Amanda Duvendack and Jasmine Berry each qualified for tomorrow's finals in their respective events. Duvendack will enter the final of the 800m after posting the fifth-fastest preliminary time (2:07.74) in her gun-to-tape victory in heat two. Berry qualified for the 400m hurdle final after running a personal-best time of 1:00.27, the seventh-best time in the preliminary rounds.

Several other Illini competed well on Saturday, posting seasonal- or lifetime-best performances. Kymbriona Taylor posted season-best results in the 100m (12.07) and 200m (24.69), Emma Grimes had a career-best race in the 1,500m, finishing in 4:35.02, and Pedrya Seymour had her best-ever 400m hurdles race, finishing ninth in 1:01.66.

Illinois enters the final day of competition in eighth place with 13.5 points. Minnesota leads the team race with 71 points, while Michigan State (52) and Nebraska (51) are in a fight for second.

The Illini will return to Ralph Young Track and Field for the final day of the 2015 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championship on Sunday. The first event featuring an Orange and Blue competitor on the last day of competition is the high jump, scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. ET. Running event finals featuring Illinois participants begin at 2:03 p.m. with the 800m.

Big Ten Championships Team Standings
1. Minnesota - 71
2. Michigan St. - 52
3. Nebraska - 51
4. Wisconsin - 30
5. Penn State - 24
6. Indiana - 20
7. Michigan - 15
8. Illinois - 13.5
T-9. Iowa - 11
T-9. Maryland - 11
11. Purdue - 9.5
12. Ohio State - 4

Illinois Results at 2015 Big Ten Indoor Championships

Saturday, May 16
Q/q = qualified for finals

100m (Prelims)
17. Kymbriona Taylor - 12.07

200m (Prelims)
17. Kymbriona Taylor - 24.69

800m (Prelims)
5. Amanda Duvendack - 2:07.74 Q
13. Nicole Choquette - 2:09.88
23. Chloe Schmidt - 2:11.86
28. Lindsey Rakosnik - 2:14.63

1,500m (Prelims)
19. Emma Grimes - 4:35.02
24. Denise Branch - 4:43.14

110m Hurdles (Prelims)
10. Breeana Coleman - 13.70

400m Hurdles (Prelims)
7. Jasmine Berry - 1:00.27 q
9. Pedrya Seymour -1:01.66
13. Miranda Marry - 1:02.52

3,000m Steeplechase
8. Britten Petrey - 10:30.84 - 1 team point
15. Valerie Bobart - 10:54.41

Discus
8. Mariah Smith - 49.55m (162' 7") - 1 team point
12. Jazjuan Wallace-Sipp - 46.50m (152' 7")

Friday, May 15
10,000m
10. Alyssa Schneider - 35:47.76
15. Audrey Blazek - 36:56.16

Pole Vault
1. Stephanie Richartz - 4.37m (14' 4")* - 10 team points
T-7. Jennifer DeBellis - 4.02m (13' 2.25") - 1.5 team points
22. Sara McKeeman - 3.77m (12' 4.50")

* Big Ten Outdoor Championships meet record and Illinois school record