Full Results (PDF)

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Kandie Bloch-Jones (high jump), Jayla Stewart (60m hurdles) and Chisom Nwoko (pole vault) each won events for the Fighting Illini Women's Track and Field team at the Border Battle, held at the UI Recreation Building on Saturday, January 9. As a team, the Illini defeated Missouri (66-45), but fell to Iowa (96-51).  

For the second time in as many meets, All-American Kandie Bloch-Jones won the high jump competition, clearing 5'10.5" (1.79m). The Illini senior cleared each of her first three bars without a miss, and then cleared 5'10.5" on her first attempt as well.

"I was really pleased with her composure today," said Head Coach Ron Garner of Bloch-Jones. "She did a wonderful job. She was really tuned in and her communication showed a lot of maturity today. The exchange between her and I during the competition was really good. Coming off of winter break, I think this is the best she's been at this point in the season since she came to Illinois."

Elsewhere in field events, Illini freshman Chisom Nwoko won her first collegiate pole vault competition, as she edged out teammate Sara McKeeman. Nwoko and McKeeman both marked 12'3.5" (3.75m) on the afternoon, but Nwoko cleared her first bar at the height, while McKeeman cleared the height on her third attempt.

"Sara McKeeman wasn't able to practice at full capacity this fall, so pole vault coach Bryan Carrell was really pleased with what she was able to do today," said Garner. "For Chisom, it's good that she's getting repetitions in, finishing just under her high school best."

On the track, Jayla Stewart led the Orange and Blue, winning her second 60m hurdles competition of the season. Stewart timed 8.47 in the race, winning the event by eight-tenths of a second. Fellow Illini Kortni Smyers-Jones placed third with a time of 8.65.

"It was nothing spectacular, but another solid workday," explained Garner of Stewart. "It was good for her to race against someone with a similar ability today and performance level."

In the 60m dash, sophomore Sade Hargrove timed a personal-best 7.67 mark to place third in the event. Stewart (7.68) followed in fifth, while Briana Driver (7.78) took sixth.

Illinois also tallied three runner-up finishes on the track this afternoon, including a trio of Illini in the top-five of the 200m dash.

Janile Rogers clocked 25.26 in the 200m dash to finish second, while freshmen Kay Hylton (25.47) and Felicia Phillips (25.49) both won their heats and placed third and fourth, respectively.

In distance events, Denise Branch placed second in the mile with a time of 5:02.07, while Audrey Blazek was runner-up in the 3,000m run with a time of 10:41.60.

"Denise did a really good job," Garner said. "She really ran an excellent race. She was really focused and engaged and ran with a lot of confidence, so it's very promising."

The Fighting Illini will return home to host the Illini Classic on Saturday, January 14 at the UI Armory. The meet will begin at 10 a.m. central time.

Event Winners

Kandie Bloch-Jones – High Jump, 5'10.5" (1.79m)

Jayla Stewart – 60m Hurdles, 8.47

Chisom Nwoko – Pole Vault, 12'3.5" (3.75m)

Team Scores

Illinois 66.00 Missouri 45.00

Iowa 96.00 Illinois 51.00

Iowa 105.00 33.00 Missouri