University of Illinois
Drake Relays
@IlliniWTrack Wins Shuttle Hurdle Relay at Drake
April 30, 2016 | Women's Track & Field
#Illini Clock Victorious Time of 54.76
DES MOINES, IA. – Pedrya Seymour, Jayla Stewart, Jasmine Berry and Kortni Smyers-Jones clocked a 54.76 time in the 4x100m shuttle hurdle final to win the event title. The time fell just shy of the fifth-best mark in Illinois history, set back in 1993. It was the first Illini shuttle hurdle title at Drake Relays since 2001.
"That was what we had hoped for," exclaimed Head Coach Ron Garner. "It was another milestone for us in building the program. We wanted to establish an area [at Drake Relays] that we could compete in, and we did."
The hurdlers' victory today marked the first time the program had won the shuttle hurdles since the 2001 Drake Relays. That year, Jenny and Susanna Kallur, Camee' Williams and Perdita Felicien set the world record in the 400m shuttle relay with a time of 52.85. Today's mark fell just 0.03 seconds shy of surpassing the fifth-best time in school history.
"It was really good," said Jayla Stewart. "We we were just trying to focus on all the things the coaches told us to, and execute all the things we've worked on in practice."
Prior to the meet the Illini had a different order in place for the event, but an adjustment today proved vital to the group's success.
"I think it was critical that we had a discussion on what order we thought we'd run," explained Garner. "Randy [Gillon] made an adjustment and I think it was the best one, taking some pressure off of [Jasmine Berry] by running her in third instead of at the end."
Elsewhere, Valerie Bobart set another personal-record time in the 3,000m steeplechase. After clocking 10:42.42 at the Central Florida Dual earlier this month, the sophomore shredded nearly 12 seconds off of that time to place fourth overall.
The Illinois pole vaulters also scored bounce back performances after both Jennifer DeBellis and Sara McKeeman fell short of their expectations last weekend. Today, DeBellis set a season-best mark of 13'3.50" (4.05m), while Sara McKeeman added in a clearance of 12'9.50" (3.90m).
"I think our pole vaulters had a solid day," said Garner. "They had to take it indoors because of the weather. When you take one of the variables out and the two of them were right back on pace from where they've been."
Over the course of the three-day meet, the Illini showed growth in multiple events, something that Coach Garner believes will help the team improve going forward.
"I think the whole team can grow from what took place [today,"] said Garner. "Last year we didn't have a hurdler [in the final,] two years ago we finished second to Purdue, and the last time we had won [at Drake Relays] was 2001. That's something that you can take pride in, that you have four hurdlers in the group."
The Illini conclude the regular season on Wednesday, May 4 with the Illini Open. The meet begins with field events at 2 p.m. and concludes with track events at 5:30 p.m.
