CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – After getting their feet wet in a dual victory against Northern Illinois a month ago at the UI Armory, the Illini will resume their 2016-17 schedule on Saturday, January 7 at the Border Battle. Held at the UI Recreation Building in Iowa City, Iowa, the meet is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. central time.
A Look at the Competition
Iowa returns some talented sprinters from last year's squad that placed fifth at Big Ten Indoor Championships and tied for fifth at Big Ten Outdoor Championships. Big Ten Freshman of the Year Briana Guillory was a second-team All-American in the 200m, while also a member of the 4x4 relay team that advanced to NCAA Championships during the outdoor season. Elexis Guster returns in the 400m after winning the event at Big Ten indoors and placing second at the outdoor conference meet, while Mar'yea Harris placed fourth.
For Missouri, a trio of Tigers lead the distance group, led by Karissa Schweizer who is coming off an NCAA title in cross country. Schweizer placed fifth at SEC Indoors in the 3,000m, while freshman Jamie Kempfer took eighth in the 5,000m and Valeska Halamicek finished sixth in the 800m. In field events, Alyssa Applebee leads the team after she marked 13'10" (4.22m) at SEC Indoors last season to place sixth.
Border Battle Series History
Now in the third year of the meet, Coach Garner's squad is a combined 3-1 in the dual meet series. After splitting the two duals two years ago, defeating Missouri and losing to Iowa, the Illini swept the duals last year at the UI Armory. Five Illini earned event titles, as Kandie Bloch-Jones (high jump), Jennifer DeBellis (pole vault), Briana Driver (long jump), Nicole Choquette (800m) and Pedrya Seymour (60m hurdles) were each victorious.
Competitions To Watch
60m Hurdles: Coming off a strong start to her Illini career as a freshman, scoring in the 60m and 100m hurdles at Big Ten Championships, Stewart competed at U.S. Junior Championships over the summer, placing seventh. Now in her second season with the Orange and Blue, Stewart kicked off the 2016-17 season with an 8.48 mark in the event to win the Illinois Women's Dual.
400m: Illini freshmen Felicia Phillips will compete in her second collegiate meet after getting her feet wet in the dual meet a month ago. Phillips was a state champion in Tennessee in the 400m as a senior, clocking 55.27 in the event. Phillips will be joined in the event by junior Jasmine Berry.
200m: Four Illini will compete in the event, including freshmen Kayla Hylton and Felicia Phillips. Hylton placed runner-up in the event at IHSA state championships, helping Lincoln-Way East win its fourth consecutive state title. Phillips also had success in the event in high school, as she finished third in the state of Tennessee in the 200m during the indoor season and second during the outdoor season. Junior Janile Rogers and sophomore Emone Davis will also compete for the Illini.
Next Up
Illini fans will get their second look at the 2016-17 team as the Orange and Blue host the annual Illini Classic on Saturday, January 14. The meet is scheduled to begin with field events at 10 a.m. followed by track events.
Illini Notes
Illini Defeat Northern Illinois, 67.5-50.5 in Dual Meet
The Fighting Illini women's track team used eight event titles in the 12 events to defeat Northern Illinois in the Illinois Women's Dual meet, 67.50-50.5. Of the eight event victories, two came from sophomore Jayla Stewart who won the 60m dash and 60m hurdles, while the Illini also saw eight freshmen make their Illini debut today. Of those eight, three earned event titles as well.
Home Sweet Home
The Illinois Women's Dual marks the first of four home meets between the indoor and outdoor seasons this year. After returning from winter break, the team will host the Illini Classic on January 14, followed by the Orange and Blue Open a month later on February 18. The lone outdoor home meet will be the annual Illini Twilight on April 22 at the Illinois Track Stadium.
New Year, New Video Board
During the month of December, the UI Armory received an upgrade with the addition of a video board, located on the west wall of the track. Measuring 14 1/2' tall and 26' wide, the board will enhance the Illini fan experience during home meets this season.
The Gang's All Here
The 'Hurdle Gang' is back for their second season after the group was arguably the most consistent group on the team in 2015-16. Headlining the group was redshirt sophomore Pedrya Seymour, who advanced to indoor and outdoor NCAA Championships, and then went on to place sixth at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in the 100m hurdles. Joining Seymour were first-year Illini Jayla Stewart and Kortni Smyers-Jones. Stewart showed continued growth throughout her freshman campaign, placing at Big Ten Championships and advancing to NCAA Prelims. Over the summer, Stewart placed seventh at U.S. Track and Field Junior Championships. Smyers-Jones, a junior college transfer, also improved her times throughout her junior season and advanced to NCAA Prelims in May to put three Illini in the event.
Bloch-Jones Readies For Senior Season
Now a three-time All-American, high jumper Kandie Bloch-Jones will look to solidify herself as one of the best Illinois high jumpers in program history. Currently fourth on the school's all-time indoor list, Bloch-Jones is coming off All-America honors during the outdoor season and a 14th place finish at U.S. Olympic Trials. Bloch-Jones has a career-best mark of 6'0.5" (1.84m). The school record is 6'1.25" (1.86m).
4x100m Relay Returns With Championship Experience
All four legs of the 4x100m relay team return from last year's NCAA Championship qualifying squad. Anchored by senior Kymbriona Taylor, the Illini will again feature Janile Rogers, Seymour, Stewart and Taylor. The group placed fifth at Big Ten Outdoor Championships and 10th at NCAA West Prelims, advancing them to NCAA Championships.
B1G Faces – Pedrya Seymour
During the offseason, Pedrya Seymour was chosen as one of the Big Ten Network's Faces of Illinois, making a commercial spot that will air throughout the spring on the conference network. The redshirt junior became the first Illini to reach an Olympic final while still enrolled at University of Illinois. Seymour surged into second place all-time on the Illinois list in the 100m hurdles with a 12.64 showing in the Olympic semifinal. Representing the Bahamas, Seymour would go on to place sixth as the youngest competitor in the eight-hurdler final. As part of the commercial, Seymour also talks about suffering and overcoming injuries and the loss of her brother.
Coach Garner Hauls in Five to Class of 2017
In November, Head Coach Ron Garner, Associate Head Coach Randy Gillon and Assistant Coach Scott Jones announced the signing of five talented high school athletes to letters of national intent. The newest members of the Illini track family enter their senior high school seasons having already reeled in honors and accolades. The five combined for seven individual national titles across high school and club teams, 13 individual state titles and 212 point scored at 2016 state championship meets.
