Full Results
CHAMPAIGN, ILL. – With five Illini seniors being honored during today's Illinois Twilight meet, the Orange & Blue recorded five event titles in route to a team victory. The Fighting Illini earned top honors in the 100m hurdles, sweeping the top-three spots, 400m hurdles, 200m, long jump and the 4x100m relay. All-American Pedrya Seymour led all Illini with three event titles.
"For where we started and what we wanted to accomplish at this meet, we made progress as a team. I think we had some nice things that happened today."
A group that has come to refer to themselves as the 'hurdle gang' swept the top three spots of the 100m hurdles this evening. All-American Pedrya Seymour led the way with a 13.40 time that bested her performance at the UCF dual two weeks ago. Trailing Seymour was freshman Jayla Stewart with a runner-up time of 13.59, while Kortni Smyers-Jones rounded out the trio with a time of 14.19.
"Pedrya continued her success," said Coach Garner. "There was a slight head wind, ran 13.40, but replicated her performance from the week before. Jayla ran a very good race too. Moving that forward, Kortni Smyers-Jones is going to be okay. It's difficult when two other teammates are running really well and you're working on some things. I believe in Kortni Smyers-Jones. She's a great kid and she's working really hard. I know she'll be there when we need her."
Seymour returned later in the evening session with a 23.88 clip in the 200m dash to take home her second event title of the day. Four other Illini joined Seymour in the top-10 of the event, led by Janile Rogers with a third-place time of 24.48. Freshman Jayla Stewart and Kortni Smyers-Jones each won their heats of the 200m to place fifth and sixth overall. Senior Kymbriona Taylor rounded out the five Illini in eighth.
"[For Seymour] to have a 13.40 time earlier, and then come back and have a significant personal-record, you're talking about someone who couldn't break 25 seconds when she got here."
Jasmine Berry tacked on a second hurdle victory this afternoon with a title in the 400m hurdles. The Belleville, Illinois sophomore clocked a season-best 1:01.24 mark to edge out Evelyn Granados of Marquette.
A third individual victory was added in the long jump with freshman Briana Driver topping the field with a mark of 18'7.75" (5.68m). Teammate Janile Rogers followed in second with a mark of 18'3.25" (5.57m).
"I thought Briana [Driver] did a nice job in the long jump, winning," explained Garner. "More importantly, it was how she took care of things, getting ready, and managed herself in the competition."
In the 4x100m relay, it was another new combination for Coach Garner's squad as most sprinters and hurdlers on the team have taken their turn in the event. Tonight, the Seymour-Driver-Rogers-Taylor mix clocked 45.08 to win their second 4x1 crown of the season.
"The relay was a highlight for us," said Garner. "It's not that the time was a seasonal-best, it was an improvement and it was the fourth group we've put together [this season.] There are seven individuals that have made up those four teams. So, being a young program and being able to interchange people for various reasons [shows] we're in the right direction. By the time we get to Big Ten [Championships} we'll be able to get up there in the mix."
Elsewhere in field events, Kandie Bloch-Jones finished runner-up in the high jump competition. Her mark of 5'6.5" (1.69m) fell short of Eastern Illinois' Haleigh Knapp's 5'10.75" (1.80m).
Four Fighting Illini runners placed runner-up in their respective events.
In sprints, Senior Kymbriona Taylor ran the 100m in 12.14 to place second among collegiate competitors, while freshman Sade Hargrove did the same in the 400m with a time of 56.59.
In middle distance events, Nicole Choquette finished second, but was the top collegian in the race, with a time of 2:08.74. Rounding out the four runner-up honors was Hanna Winter in the 1500m run, clocking a 4:30.18 personal-record.
"We welcomed back Nicole Choquette," said Garner. "It's been quite awhile since she's been able to get a quality 800m in. The work that she's done, where she's at right now, that was a good performance. The next couple of weeks, we should see her sharpen things up. For Hanna, I like how she approached it. She was much more assertive than normal, ran with a good rhythm and just got nipped at the line."
The Fighting Illini return next week for their final big meet of the season, the annual Drake Relays. Competition begins Thursday, April 28 and continues through Saturday, April 30.
"Drake is going to be a great work meet for us," said Garner. "We should go in and show improvements in all areas." Â
Team Scores:
- ILLINOIS – 146
- Eastern Illinois – 131
- Illinois State – 86
