CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 24 Fighting Illini Women's Track and Field begins indoor postseason competition this weekend at Big Ten Indoor Championships in Geneva, Ohio. Held inside the Spire Institute, the meet begins Friday, February 24 and continues through Saturday, February 25.
Meet Notes
Watch the Meet Live
The entire Big Ten Indoor Championships meet will be streamed live through BTN Plus on Friday and Saturday. With a paid subscription fans can access it online at www.btn2go.com and through the BTN2Go mobile app.
Last Year at Big Ten Championships
Three Fighting Illini reached the podium at last year's indoor conference meet, as Kandie Bloch-Jones (high jump), Pedrya Seymour (60m hurdles) and Nicole Choquette (800m) finished in the top-three. Bloch-Jones cleared 5'11.25" (1.81m) to finish runner-up, while Nicole Choquette's 2:05.90 also finished second. Seymour set a new personal-best time of 8.16 in the 60m hurdles, placing third in the final.
A Look at the Competition
Illinois is one of five Big Ten schools currently ranked by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Penn State leads the conference at No. 14, while Indiana and Michigan follow the Nittany Lions at 16th and 18th, respectively. Purdue sits three spots ahead of the 24th-ranked Illini at No. 21.
Competitions To Watch
60m Hurdles: It'll likely be a battle between two Bahamians for the Big Ten title, as Pedrya Seymour battle's country mate Devynne Charlton of the Purdue. Charlton and Seymour have already competed against one another twice this season, splitting the two meets. The Illini hurdler beat Charlton at Rod McCravy as she clocked the second-fastest time (7.98) in NCAA Division I this season, while Charlton beat her two weeks later at the Meyo Invite with a season-best 8.02 time. Minnesota's Kimberly Golding could be a darkhorse in the event, clocking 8.16 at the Music City Challenge two weekends ago, while Jayla Stewart's 8.25 time at the Orange and Blue Open puts her in position to score for the Illini as well.
High Jump: The Illinois-Purdue theme continues in the high jump, as Kandie Bloch-Jones and reigning Big Ten Indoor champion Janae Moffitt enter with the top heights this season. Like Seymour, Bloch-Jones bested Moffitt at Rod McCravy. Along with Moffitt and Bloch-Jones, junior Reka Czuth of Nebraska enters with a 6'0" (1.83m) jump last weekend and is the reigning outdoor conference champion.
Long Jump: The Illini feature two long jumpers that rank in the top-10 in the Big Ten entering the meet, sophomore Briana Driver, ranked eighth, with a leap of 19'6.75" (5.95m) and junior Janile Rogers, 10th, with a mark of 19'4.25" (5.90m). Both Driver and Rogers set the personal-best marks earlier this month at the Music City Challenge in Nashville, Tennessee on February 11. A pair of Nebraska jumpers Jazmin McCoy, ninth in the Big Ten, and Reka Czuth, seventh, will battle Driver and Rogers for a top-eight finish.
Next Up
Illinois athletes finishing in the top-16 nationally in their event will head to College Station, Texas for NCAA Indoor Championships. The meet begins Friday, March 10 and continues through Saturday, March 11.
ILLINI NOTES
Illini Ranked NO. 24 by USTFCCCA
The Fighting Illini Women's Track and Field is ranked No. 24 in this week's United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Team Computer Rankings. The Illini enter the week with 30.96 points according to the index, which is fifth among Big Ten teams. Last week, the Illini were ranked for the first time since placing 14th at 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Illini in the Rankings
With just one meet remaining before conference championships, Pedrya Seymour (60m hurdles) and Kandie Bloch-Jones (high jump) continue to rank among the nation's best in their events. Seymour's 7.98 60m hurdle time, the fourth-fastest in the world this year, ranks second only to Sasha Wallace of Oregon (7.91), while Bloch-Jones is currently tied for sixth in NCAA Division I with a clearance of 6'0.75" (1.85m).
Bloch-Jones, Seymour Tops In The Big Ten
Entering the final week of the indoor regular season, high jumper Kandie Bloch-Jones and 60m hurdler Pedrya Seymour both lead the Big Ten in their respective events. Bloch-Jones' 6'0.75" (1.85m) height at the Illini Classic is tops in the conference, while Pedrya Seymour's 7.98 time at the Rod McCravy Memorial puts her 0.07 seconds ahead of second-place Devynn Charlton.
Three other Illini rank among the top-ten in the Big Ten, as long jumpers Briana Driver (19'6.75") and Janile Rogers (19'4.75") sit eighth and tenth in the conference after both set personal-bests at the Music City Challenge. Jayla Stewart is seventh in the 60m hurdles after set a PR of 8.35 at the Orange and Blue Open last weekend.
Long Jumpers Come Up Big in Nashville
Briana Driver and Janile Rogers both set significant personal-record jumps at the Music City Challenge on February 11, resulting in Coach Garner calling it the best long jump competition for the Illini in three years. Driver wasted no time in setting the new PR, leaping 19'6.75" (5.95m) on her first attempt. Rogers set a PR in each of her three jumps, her best coming on the second attempt at which she marked 19'4.75" (5.90m).
Bloch-Jones Named Co-Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week
Following her personal-best mark of 6'0.75" (1.85m) at the Illini Classic, Illini senior high jumper Kandie Bloch-Jones was named Big Ten Co-Field Athlete of the Week on Wednesday, January 18. Bloch-Jones' mark currently ranks sixth in the country, first in the Big Ten and second on Illinois' all-time list.
Bloch-Jones, Seymour Impress at Illini Classic
Kandie Bloch-Jones flirted with the Illinois high jump school record, as the Illini senior cleared 6'0.75" (1.85m) to win the competition. Bloch-Jones attempted the school record height of 6'1.75" (1.87m), but fell short on her three attempts. On the track, Pedrya Seymour made her season debut with a 60m hurdles personal-best time of 8.13 to win the event.
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 feet tall and 26 feet 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).
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 Talented Class to 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.
