NASHVILLE, TN – Fighting Illini Women's Track and Field concluded action on day one of the Music City Challenge, as Kandie Bloch-Jones tied for third in the high jump competition and Kay Hylton set a personal-best time in the 200m dash.

Clearing 5'7.75" (1.72m), Bloch-Jones tied Mary Terry (Georgia) and Taylor Wiebke (Minnesota) for third in the high jump competition, placing behind NCAA defending champion Tatiana Gusin and Minnesota's Heta Turri. The Illini senior entered the competition at 5'5.75" (1.67m), clearing the height on her first attempt, and then cleared 5'7.75" (1.72m) on her second try.

"She's was feeling under the weather going into competition today," said Coach Garner of the Illini high jumper. "We weren't able to warm-up. We passed from 1.72 meters to 1.79 meters, so it was a struggle physically. I appreciate her being a warrior and trying to get something out of it. She barely missed her last jump at 5'10.5" (1.82m)."

During the evening session, Kay Hylton clocked a lifetime-best 200m, clocking 24.66 to win heat six. Hylton's time is a two-tenth improvement on her previous personal-record time of 24.86 set at the Rod McCravy Memorial meet on January 21.

"Kayla looked good," Garner said of the freshman sprinter. "It was a good run in the 200m, and good distribution improvement."

Janile Rogers set a season-best time in the event with a 24.96 performance in heat three.

The Orange and Blue will continue competition at the Music City Challenge tomorrow (2/11), beginning at 10 a.m. central time with 3,000m run.