Full Results
GENEVA, Ohio – The Fighting Illini women's track and field team received point-scoring performances in the 60m hurdles, high jump and 4x400m relay as Big Ten Indoor Championships concluded on Saturday afternoon inside the Spire Institute. Seymour led the trio of Illini with a runner-up finish in the 60m hurdles, tying her 7.98 personal-record, while Bloch-Jones (fourth), Stewart (sixth) and the 4x400m relay team (seventh) also placed on day two of the meet.
"It's tough to come in here and not be a contender, not be one of the top teams vying for a championship," Head Coach Garner said after the meet. "However, we also have to be appreciative of the individual efforts this weekend."
Seymour was edged at the line in the 60m hurdle final by Purdue's Devynne Charlton, who clocked a personal-record time of 7.97 that ranks second in NCAA Division I. Finishing runner-up to her fellow Bahamian, Seymour improved upon her third place finish at last season's Big Ten Indoor Championships.
"It was an outstanding race. Pedrya being in the final and replicating her best, she has the poise to do that," said Garner. "It'll prepare her for the NCAA meet, especially with Charlton who was third at NCAA indoors last year."
Also competing in the 60m hurdle final, Jayla Stewart set her second personal-best time in the event in as many days. After timing 8.31 on Friday afternoon to advance to the final, the Illini sophomore lowered her time to 8.26 in the final to place sixth. Stewart's time sits just outside of the Illinois all-time list, a one-hundredth of a second behind Jesica Ejesiem's 8.25 mark set in 2013.
"It was great to see Jayla get that breakthrough," Garner said of the sophomore hurdler. "That's what we were hoping for, and you have to commend [Associate Head] Coach [Randy] Gillon for that."
Her fourth straight year placing in the top-five of the high jump, senior Kandie Bloch-Jones took fourth place in the high jump on Saturday with a height of 5'10.5" (1.79m). Prior to that height, Bloch-Jones cleared bars at 5'7.25" (1.71m) and 5'9.25" (1.76m).
"It's unfortunate," said Coach Garner of the outcome. "That's the position she's been in before. I think they all the things she's working through will prepare her for nationals. She's always been in contention for a title since she arrived on campus, so I appreciate that part of it. I just wish, for her, that the result would have been different."
Competing in the triple jump for the first time this season, senior Kortni Smyers-Jones set a personal-record performance and won the first flight of competition. Smyers-Jones leaped 40'4.25" (12.30m) on her third attempt, more than a foot better than the runner-up in her flight, and finished 11th overall.
Rounding out the scoring for the Illini was the 4x400m relay team of Chisom Nwoko, Pedrya Seymour, Sade Hargrove and Briana Driver. The four Illini combined for a season-best time of 3:40.56 to finish runner-up in their section and seventh overall.
"Everyone of those kids competed their hearts out," Garner said of the relay. "Nwoko ran a great leadoff and put us out in front. It was Pedrya's first 400m since indoor championships last year, so for her to go out and give us the lead was big. Sade fought every step of her leg, and then Briana competed through the finish line. It was a season-best with a different group, which I think is a good sign going forward."
Up next, two Illini will wait to see if they qualify for NCAA Championships, held March 10-11, in College Statin, Entering the weekend ranked second and sixth respectively, Pedrya Seymour and Kandie Bloch-Jones are likely to be in the field after both earned All-America honors last season. The rest of the Illini will begin training for the outdoor season, which begins March 17-18 at the 49'er Classic in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Fighting Illini Point Scorers
High Jump
4. Kandie Bloch-Jones, 5'10.5" (1.79m) – 5 points
60m Hurdles
2. Pedrya Seymour, 7.98 – 8 points
6. Jayla Stewart, 8.26 – 3 points
4x400m Relay
7. Chisom Nwoko, Pedrya Seymour, Sade Hargrove, Briana Driver, 3:40.56 – 2 points
Final Team Scores:
1.Penn State – 96.5
2.Purdue – 94
3.Ohio State – 83
4.Minnesota – 70
5.Indiana – 69
6.Wisconsin – 64.5
7.Michigan – 54
8. Nebraska– 48
9. Maryland – 47
10.Iowa – 34
11. Michigan State - 24
12.Illinois – 18
