University of Illinois
Weems Baskin Invite
Women’s Track Continue Carolinas Trip at Weems Baskin Invite
March 23, 2017 | Women's Track & Field
Meet on Friday and Saturday in Columbia, South Carolina
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini women's track and field continues their two-week trip to the Carolinas with the Weems Baskin Invite in Columbia, South Carolina. Held at the Sheila & Morris Cregger Track, the meet begins Friday, March 24 and continues through Saturday, March 25.
| Weems Baskin Invite | |
|---|---|
| When | Friday, March 24 - Saturday, March 25 |
| Where | Sheila & Morris Cregger Track // Charlotte, South Carolina |
| Live Link | Results |
| Meet Information | Schedule | Meet Info |
| Team Information | Meet Notes | Performance List | Media Guide | Quick Facts |
| Social Media | @IlliniWTrack  | #Illini | @Illiniwtrack  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
Meet Notes
Follow the Meet
Prime Time Timing will provide live results throughout the two-day competition. Results can be accessed using the following link: http://live.pttiming.com/?mid=1181, while fans can also follow @IlliniWTrack on Twitter for updates throughout the meet.
Last Time Out
Illinois began the 2017 outdoor season at the 49'er Classic in Charlotte, North Carolina with a pair of event victories in distance events. Valerie Bobart won the 3,000m steeplechase on Friday evening with a time of 10:44.20, and then Audrey Blazek started day two of the meet off with a 37:13.59 time to win the 10,000m race. The Illini also earned runner-up finishes in the 10K (Amanda Fox), 100m hurdles (Jayla Stewart).
A Look at the Competition
Illinois will be compete against 32 other schools on Friday and Saturday, highlighted by host South Carolina and Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech is ranked No. 20 in this week's USTFCCCA poll, while South Carolina checks in at No. 22.
Illini Competitions to Watch
3,000m Steeplechase // Valerie Bobart
Final: Friday @ 5 p.m. CT
For the second straight season, Valerie Bobart opened the outdoor season with an event title, winning the 3,000m steeplechase at the 49'er Classic with a time of 10:44.20. The senior enters the season with a personal-best time of 10:30:70, set last year at Drake Relays on April 30. The time qualified Bobart for her first NCAA West Prelims appearance in Lawrence, Kansas last May.
100m Hurdles // Jayla Stewart and Kortni Smyers-Jones
Final: Saturday @ 11:40 a.m.
Stewart and Smyers-Jones both placed in the top-five at the 49'er Classic last weekend, Stewart claiming runner-up honors with time of 13.62 in the final, while Smyers-Jones took fourth with a time of 13.97. Stewart set her personal-best performance of 13.29 last summer at the United States Track and Field Junior Championships, while Smyers-Jones timed 13.60 at NCAA Prelims last May to set a new PR.
High Jump // Kandie Bloch-Jones
Final: Saturday @ 2 p.m.
Making her outdoor the debut, the indoor All-American begins her final season with the Illini. A four-time All-American overall, Bloch-Jones set a new personal-best mark during the indoor season when she cleared 6'0.75" (1.85m) at the Illini Classic last on January 14. Following her junior season last year in which she earned All-America honors, Bloch-Jones placed 14th at U.S. Olympic Trials.
Up Next
The Orange and Blue return to the Land of Lincoln for the Eastern Illinois Big Blue Invite, March 31-April 1 in Charleston, Illinois.
ILLINI NOTES
Three Illini Lead Big Ten Outdoor Rankings
Audrey Blazek (10K), Valerie Bobart (3K steeplechase) and Kortni Smyers-Jones (Triple Jump) all lead the Big Ten conference in their respective events following the 49'er Classic. Jayla Stewart (100m hurdles), Amanda Fox (10K) and Nicole Choquette (1500m) each rank second in the Big Ten through the first week of the season
Seymour Sets PR to Take 3rd at NCAA indoor Championships
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 when Perdita Felicien took third as well.
Seymour Places Runner-up, Bloch-Jones and Stewart Score at Big TEns
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.
Illini Ranked NO. 24 by USTFCCCA For Two Weeks
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.
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.
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.
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.
