Full Results
TEMPE, ARIZ. – The Fighting Illini Women's Track & Field opened their outdoor season this weekend at the Baldy Castillo Invite, finishing with an event title from Valerie Bobart in the steeplechase and four other top-five finishes.
"It was a productive weekend, very solid performances," said Head Coach Ron Garner. "It was a work day. We had to run [girls] in multiple races, a lot of the sprints, hurdles, and jump group. Last night was nice. Valerie [Bobart] got off to a nice start this year, winning the [3,000m.] We didn't win any events today, but we had some personal-records."
Valerie Bobart clocked a 10:48.15 time in the 3,000m steeplechase to beat out Jill Weston of Kentucky, who placed second. The time for Bobart topped her best time last season in the event.
After a strong indoor campaign, Illini hurdlers Jayla Stewart and Kortni Smyers-Jones performed well in their first outdoor competition of the season. Stewart finished runner-up with a time of 13.68, while Smyers-Jones placed fourth with a time of 14.01.
"Jayla had a good first run," said Garner. In the 100m hurdlers, that was her best opener at 13.81, 35-hundredths off her personal-record. She also had just came off running the 4x100m relay. She ran a solid first race of the year and then came back in the 200m. She got some good work in." Â
In the 400m hurdles, Jasmine Berry (1:02.00) finished sixth, while Miranda Marry (1:03.66) placed eighth in the event.
In sprints, the Illini had four athletes compete in the 100m dash. Janile Rogers led the way with a time of 11.86, placing tenth with a personal-best time. Right behind her was Kymbriona Taylor with a time of 11.87. Rounding out the four Illini were Sade Hargrove in 13th (11.97) and Emone Davis (12.50) in 19th. The time for Hargrove was a personal-record for the event.
Elsewhere in sprints, Janile Rogers led the Illini in the 200m dash with a personal-best 24.20 time, while Kortni Smyers-Jones and Kymbriona Taylor finished in 24.63 and 24.70, respectively.
In middle distance events, Lindsey Rakosnik placed sixth in the 800m with a time of 2:11.87.
In the pole vault, Jennifer DeBellis led the Illini with a clearance of 12'7.5" (3.85m) on her third attempt at that height. The mark placed DeBellis in a tie for fifth in the field, while Sara McKeeman marked 12'1.5" (3.70m) on her first attempt, but was unable to clear the next height.
Janile Rogers and Briana Driver both competed in the long jump this afternoon, but neither were able to qualify for the finals. Rogers placed 11th with a mark of 18'5.25" (5.62m), while Driver leaped 17'11" (5.46m) to finish 13th.
In relays, the Orange & Blue placed third in the 4x100m relay. Jasmine Berry, Emone Davis, Briana Driver, and Kymbriona Taylor led the 4x100m group to a third-place finish with a time of 45.64.
"Kym Taylor had a good anchor leg on the 4x100m," said Garner. "We are much better [in the event] than we have been in a couple years."
To end the meet, the Fighting Illini placed seventh in the 4x400m relay, completing the 1600m in 3:50.18.
I'm pleased with the work that we got done," said Garner. "We were able to get at it and it was a good start. It was a very pleasurable trip. We still need to get some people healthy that are crucial to our outdoor [team.} But, those that did compete had solid performances."
The Illini compete in their second outdoor meet next Friday and Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee at the Black & Gold Invite. Â
Top-5 Finishes
1-Valerie Bobart: 3,000m, 10:48.15
2-Jayla Stewart: 100m Hurdles, 13.81
3-4x100m Relay: 45.64
4-Kortni Smyers-Jones: 100m Hurdles, 14.01
5-Jennifer DeBellis: Pole Vault, 12'7.5" (3.85m)
