University of Illinois
NCAA Indoor Championships
Seymour Places Third in NCAA Final
March 11, 2017 | Women's Track & Field
Third All-America honor for Illini hurdler
COLLEGE STATION, TX – Illinois 60m hurdler Pedrya Seymour placed third in the final at NCAA Championships with a personal-best time of 7.97 on Saturday evening at the Rhonda and Frosty Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium. The All-America honor is the third of Seymour's career, while the third-place finish in the 60m hurdles is the best by an Illini since 2003. The Illini placed 36th overall in the 60-team field.
"It's fantastic for the program," said Head Coach Ron Garner said of Seymour. "She's been an ambassador for Illinois for the past year. After her success last year, to come back and have the indoor season she's had is an incredible accomplishment."
The new personal-best time of 7.97 placed the Illini redshirt junior third in the race behind champion Sasha Wallace (7.90) of Oregon and runner-up Devynne Charlton (7.93) of Purdue.
"Making it to nationals indoor is huge because indoor is really competitive and to place third is special. "I'm grateful that I was able to line up with great hurdlers who are ranked nationally and internationally. I was really pleased with my start because that's usually my weakest part of the race. It was a great run; and I'm exceptionally proud of the work Coach Gillon and I have put in to make this happen."
The lifetime best performance came after a difficult semifinal race on Friday when Seymour's 8.09 time was the highest to advance.
"I thought she did a great job today," said Associate Head Coach Randy Gillon. "In her run yesterday, there was a little bit of nerves that had to be worked out. We had a good conversation after the semifinal race to set her up for today; and she did a great job coming back. I'm really proud of the way she carried herself. It's the sign of champion that she was able to gather herself and come back to place third."
The third-place finish is the best by an Illini since Stephanie Richartz took third in the pole vault in 2015, and the best in the 60m hurdles since Illini event record-holder Perdita Felicien placed third in the 2003 final.
The All-America finish is the third of Seymour's career after the redshirt junior earned All-America honors in both the 60m hurdles and 100m hurdles last season.
Up next, the Illini will transition to the outdoor season next weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina at the 49'er Classic, March 17-18. The team will move to South Carolina the following week for the Weems Baskin Invite, March 24-25.
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