Meet Information
Border Battle Notes
Live Stats
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. –
MEET PREVIEW
After a month to make adjustments after their opening meet at the Eastern Illinois Early Bird, the women return to action this weekend as they host the second annual Border Battle against Big Ten foe Iowa and rival Missouri. The meet will begin with field events at 10 a.m. followed by track events at 1 p.m.
A LOOK AT THE COMPETITIONÂ
Missouri finished last year's regular season schedule with a ninth-place finish at SEC Championships. Similarily, the Iowa Hawkeyes placed eighth at Big Ten Championships in East Lansing last May.
ILLINI ON THE NATIONAL SCENE
Early on in the season, several Illini are making their mark nationally, ranking in the top-30 in their respective events. In the high jump, junior Kandie Bloch-Jones is third in the nation with her EIU Early Bird mark of 1.79m. Freshman Morgan Schulz had a 600m collegiate debut time of 1:34.46 to put her ninth in the country. Two Illini are tied for 26th in the nation in the pole vault with Jenn DeBellis and Sara McKeeman both posting event-winning marks of of 3.80m.
NEXT WEEK
The Illini will remain on campus as they host the Illini Classic on January 16-17. The weight throw will take place at 6 p.m. on January 16, while the rest of the meet will begin on January 17 at 11 a.m.
2015-16 HEADLINES
Bloch-Jones garners early season awards
After qualifying for 2015 NCAA Championships last season, placing 20th, Kandie Bloch-Jones has jumped out to a fast start in 2015-16 with a high jump mark that broke the Early Bird meet record. The performance earned her accolades from the Big Ten office and the University of Illinois. Bloch-Jones was named Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week on December 16, and shortly after was named the Univesity of Illinois Scholar Athlete of the Week.
Illini Earn Six Event Titles at Early Bird
The Illini earned six event crowns over the course of the season's opening evening as the team scored 108 points to place second. In the field, Bloch-Jones (high jump) and Rogers (long jump) won titles outright, while Jenn DeBellis and Sara McKeeman shared the pole vault crown. On the track, Jasmine Berry (400m), Smyers-Jones (60m Hurdles), and the 4x400m relay team of Berry, Choquette, Marry, and Schulz took home titles.
