EUGENE, Ore. – Fighting Illini 100m hurdler Pedrya Seymour advanced to the NCAA final with a 12.86 personal-record time in her semifinal heat. The NCAA 100m hurdles final is scheduled for Saturday, June 11 at 6:12 p.m. central time.
"This is the third time she's broken her [Bahamian] national record, so I think that speaks for itself as to the level that she's at. I think she's in a great position, going into the final, to be able to replicate it."
A Nassau, Bahamas native, Seymour advances to her first NCAA event final, the first Illini 100m hurdler to do so since two-time 100m hurdles NCAA Champion Perdita Felicien did so in 2003. The 12.86 mark for Seymour broke her own Bahamian record and ranks her third on Illinois' all-time list, seventh in NCAA Division I and 24th in the world.
"That's a major accomplishment in an Olympic year," exclaimed Garner. "That's huge, that's gigantic. And, moving to number three on our all-time list is big deal because the two in front of her have been world champions."
By advancing to the event final, Seymour clinches All-American honors for the second time in her career, the first as a First Team All-American. Seymour was a Second Team All-American indoors this year in the 60m hurdles.
"Coach Gillon has done a very good job of looking at her particular physical skills and modeling those into her becoming a hurdler," explained Coach Garner. "It's been an accelerated path. It's been beyond what anyone can explain."
A red-shirt sophomore, Seymour made her debut in the 100m hurdles this spring. Since making her debut on April 9, Seymour has shredded 0.64 seconds off her time in just two months.
"It's kind of an unmatched story," said Coach Garner. "I can't think of a story of my own in my 30 years of coaching that someone has risen that far. Today was just her eighth race ever in the 100m hurdles. I think part of her journey has been the challenges. When she came here, she was hurt, changed coaches, and then this year she lost her brother in February. To overcome that says a lot about her character, her work ethic and her faith."
Earlier in the evening, Seymour ran the lead leg for Illinois' 4x100m relay team. The quartet of Seymour, Janile Rogers, Jayla Stewart and Kymbriona Taylor clocked a time of 45.17, placing 22nd overall. This was the first time since 2011 that the Illini had advanced their 4x100m relay team to NCAA Championships.
"I'm proud of the efforts of our 4x100m relay team," said Garner. "I think there was good growth. We got some national level of experience after only one member of the relay team entered with NCAA Championship experience. We really liked how they carried themselves. They acted like they belonged here, so that's a positive."
The Fighting Illini will conclude action at NCAA Championships on Saturday, June 11 with Kandie Bloch-Jones in the high jump and Seymour in the 100m hurdle final.
Watch 100m Hurdles and 4x100m Relay Races
Post-Meet Celebration
