University of Illinois
Big Ten Outdoor Championships
Orange and Blue Finish 11th at Big Ten Outdoor Championships
May 17, 2015 | Women's Track & Field
Illini crown one champ and have eight other place winners
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Fighting Illini women's track and field team finished 11th at the 2015 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships with 27.5 points. Over the course of the three-day competition, the Orange and Blue crowned one conference champion and had eight other place winners.
"As the leader of the program, I have to expect more for the University of Illinois," said head coach Ron Garner. "Going into this weekend, I legitimately thought we could contend for five individual conference titles and would finish higher in the team standings. Obviously, that didn't happen which is disappointing but now we have to take a step forward and continue to build this program back to where it has been and can be."
The highlight of the weekend came on the opening day of competition, as Stephanie Richartz won the pole vault with a clearance of 4.37m (14' 4"), establishing a new Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships meet record. That mark also erases the old Illinois school record that she established earlier this season. For her career, Richartz has claimed three Big Ten Outdoor Championships pole vault crowns, the most in conference history. Her five combined titles between the indoor and outdoor championships are also the most ever.
"Illinois women's track and field has an incredible history but I don't know of any event along the way where somebody has gone into competitions and established new standards like Stephanie has," exclaimed Garner. "Her mark is not just on Illinois but also on the Big Ten conference. What she has done is huge but I don't think she has reached the peak yet. I believe this next month is going to be the best yet. I believe she will only get better the more she jumps, the more meets she goes to and the more opportunities she has."
Amanda Duvendack also found her way onto the podium in her final Big Ten Championships, placing third in the 800m. Duvendack entered the final seeded fifth but used a tremendous kick down the homestretch to finish in 2:06.16 and secure bronze.
"Amanda came back after qualifying in the prelims on Satuday and ran a fantastic final," Garner continued. "She closed very well and it was exciting to see her out there after not having her during the Indoor Championships."
Kandie Bloch-Jones finished fifth in a very strong high jump field, clearing 1.76m (5' 9.25"). Jennifer DeBellis tied for seventh in the pole vault on the first day of competition with a clearance of 4.02m (13' 2.25").
"Jenn has now scored in both the indoor and outdoor championship for us and shown great improvement along the way," Garner said. "With Stephanie leaving, we need someone to step up and be a leader and I think Jenn is ready to accept that role."
The Illini 4x400m relay team of Nicole Choquette, Pedrya Seymour, Duvendack and Miranda Marry also finished seventh, clocking a seasonal-best 3:40.36.
"I think we showed a lot of spirit in the 4x400m relay," explained Garner. "Even though the meet hadn't gone the way we wanted, they fought all the way to the end, represented Illinois in a positive manner and scored two points for the team."
Four Illini garnered eighth-place finishes in their respective events over the weekend. Jasmine Berry was eighth in the 400m hurdles, clocking 1:05.03. Alyssa Schneider also snagged an eighth-place finish, crossing the 5,000m finish line in 16:38.96, just .01 second behind seventh. Also finishing eighth were Britten Petrey and Mariah Smith. Petrey ran a personal-best 10:30.84 in the steeplechase, while Smith recorded a heave of 49.55m (162' 7") in the discus.
"I thought this weekend was a good stepping stone for Britten," Garner pronounced. "This performance showed that she can be one of the top steeplechasers in the conference next year. She's also in position to qualify for the NCAA West Prelims, which would be another big step in her development. It was also great to see Jasmine qualify for her first Big Ten final as a freshman. This weekend was a step in the right direction for her career, as well."
"I want to thank Coach Jones, Coach Gillon and Coach Carrel for all the hard work they have done throughout the year," continued Garner. "I also want to thank the seniors for staying positive about the program and continuing to work hard to represent the University of Illinois."
"I also want to congratulate the men's team on their championship," concluded Garner. "Coach Turk and his staff have provided a great model for us on how to build a program that can compete at a high level in this conference and on the national level."
Next up on the schedule for Illinois is the NCAA West Preliminary Round in Austin, Texas from May 28-30. Stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com for a list of Orange and Blue participants.
Big Ten Championships Team Standings
1. Michigan St. - 128
2. Nebraska - 97
3. Minnesota - 93
4. Ohio State - 87
5. Michigan - 80
6. Purdue - 67.5
7. Penn State - 66
8. Iowa - 52
9. Wisconsin - 46
10. Maryland - 45
11. Illinois - 27.5
12. Indiana - 26
13. Rutgers - 3
Illinois Results at 2015 Big Ten Indoor Championships
Sunday, May 17
800m
3. Amanda Duvendack - 2:06.16 - 6 team points
400m Hurdles
8. Jasmine Berry - 1:05.03 - 1 team point
5,000m
8. Alyssa Schneider - 16:38.96 - 1 team point
4x400m Relay
7. Nicole Choquette, Pedrya Seymour, Amanda Duvendack, Miranda Marry - 3:40.36 - 2 team points
High Jump
5. Kandie Bloch-Jones - 1.76m (5' 9.25") - 4 team points
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
