Bobart, Blazek Win Events as Illini Women’s Track Concludes 49’er Classic

Janile Rogers places in 100m and 200m

Women's Track & Field March 18, 2017

Bobart, Blazek Win Events as Illini Women’s Track Concludes 49’er Classic

Janile Rogers places in 100m and 200m

CHARLOTTE, NC – Illini distance runners Valerie Bobart (3,000m steeplechase) and Audrey Blazek (10,000m) recorded event titles at the 49'er Classic as the Illini wrapped up their outdoor season opener in Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition to the two titles, the Orange and Blue had four finishes in the top-five of sprint events, led by two from Janile Rogers.

Valerie Bobart won the first event of the outdoor season with a time of 10:44.20 in the 3,000m steeplechase on Friday evening. Bobart is entering her final season with the Illini after qualifying for NCAA West Prelims last year in the event.

The success in distance events continued into Saturday morning, as the Illini took the top two collegiate finishes in the 10,000m. Audrey Blazek won the event with a time of 37:13.59, while Amanda Fox timed 37:36.19 to finish runner-up.

Two Illini placed in the 100m hurdles final on Saturday. Jayla Stewart placed runner-up in the event with a time of 13.62, while teammate Kortni Smyers-Jones finished fourth with a 13.97 performance.

Janile Rogers placed in two sprint events on Saturday after advancing in qualifying on Friday. In the 100m dash, Rogers placed sixth with a time of 12.29. The junior returned later in the completion to place fifth in the 200m dash final with a time of 24.28.

In middle distance events, Kristina Kladar placed seventh in the 800m with a time of 2:16.94.

After setting a personal-record in the event at indoor Big Ten Championships, Kortni Smyers-Jones started her outdoor season with a jump of 38'9.75" (11.83m) to place seventh overall.

Illinois' 4x100m relay team clocked 46.37 to place runner-up, while the 4x400m quartet timed 3:49.22 and finished seventh overall.

Up next, the Orange and Blue will remain in the Carolinas, as the team travels to Columbia, South Carolina for the Weems Baskin Invite on March 24-25.

For complete coverage of Fighting Illini Women's Track and Field, visit FightingIllini.com, follow the Illini on Twitter (@IlliniWTrack) and Instagram (@IlliniWTrack) and like Fighting Illini Women's Track and Field on Facebook.

Event Titles:

Valerie Bobart – 3,000m steeplechase, 10:44.20

Audrey Blazek – 10,000m, 37:13.59

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