University of Illinois
Bryan Clay Invite
Four Illini Women’s Track Athletes Set for High-Level Competition
April 12, 2017 | Women's Track & Field
Action begins with steeplechase on Thursday evening
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illini women's track and field team will send its top long jumpers down to Columbia, South Carolina for the Gamecock Invite, while distance runners Valerie Bobart and Nicole Choquette will travel out to California to compete at the Bryan Clay Invite. Action at the Bryan Clay Invite begins on Wednesday, April 13, while the Gamecock Invite is scheduled for Saturday, April 15.
| Bryan Clay Invite | |
|---|---|
| When | Thursday, April 13 - Friday, April 14 |
| Where | Azusa, CA |
| Live Link | Results | FloTrack Live Stream |
| Meet Information | Schedule | Meet Info | Entries |
| Team Information | Meet Notes | Performance List | Media Guide | Quick Facts |
| Social Media | @IlliniWTrack  | #Illini | @Illiniwtrack  | Facebook  | YouTube  |
| Gamecock Invite | |
|---|---|
| When | Saturday, April 15 |
| Where | Columbia, SC |
| 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 |
Illini Notes
Last Time Out
The Orange and Blue took home four event titles and numerous personal-best performances at the Houston Alumni Invite, as Pedrya Seymour (100m hurdles), Denise Branch (1500m), Nicole Choquette (800m) and Kandie Bloch-Jones (high jump) were each victorious. Jayla Stewart set a personal-best 13.28 mark in the 100m hurdles, while Briana Driver set a personal-record in both the long jump (19'10.75") and 100m dash (11.74).
Illini to Watch
Long Jump // Briana Driver and Janile Rogers
Final: Saturday @ 9:00am CT
The Illinois long jumpers continue to ascend as the Big Ten list as the outdoor season has reached the midway point. Holding the sixth-best mark in the conference through the second weekend in April, Briana Driver leaped a personal-best 19'10.75" (6.06m) last weekend in Houston. Along with Driver, Janile Rogers enters the Gamecock Invite after her best performance of the outdoor season. Rogers jumped 19'2" (5.84m) in Houston and owns a personal-best mark of 19'4.25" (5.90m) that she set during the indoor season.
800m // Nicole Choquette
Final: Friday @ 4:35pm CT
Choquette is a two-time Big Ten medalist in the middle distance events, winning the 600m title in 2015 and placing runner-up in the 800m last season. After sitting out the indoor season this year, the redshirt junior set her best outdoor time of the season two weeks ago in South Carolina, timing 2:08.63 to finish second. In her career, Choquette's best time came at the 2015 Rankin Invite, crossing the finish line at 2:06.70.
3,000m Steeplechase // Valerie Bobart
Final: Thursday @ 7:00pm CT
Ranked sixth in the conference in the event this season, Bobart will be competing in the steeplechase for the second time this year after a 10:44.20 performance at the 49'er Classic to open the season. A 2016 NCAA West Prelims qualifier as junior, Bobart looks to once again reach the NCAA preliminary round as a senior. Her best time in the event came at last year's Drake Relays where she clocked 10:30.70.
Up Next
The Orange and Blue will return home to host their annual outdoor meet of the season, the Illinois Twilight. The meet is tentatively scheduled to begin at 3pm and admission is free to the public.
Seymour, Bloch-Jones Ranked Nationally
Two Illini performances rank among the top-25 nationally so far this outdoor season, led by Pedrya Seymour's 13.06 time in the 100m hurdles that ranks eighth nationally. Kandie Bloch-Jones sits in 25th place with a mark of 5'10" (1.78m) in the high jump.
Illini in the Big Ten
The Fighting Illini have 9 performances that rank in the top-10 of their respective events through the first two weeks of the outdoor season. Pedrya Seymour's 13.06 time in the 100m hurdles is second in the conference. Also ranked in the top-five so far this season is Jayla Stewart's personal-best hurdles time of 13.28, while the 4x100m relay is fifth with a time of 45.01.
Seymour Sets PR and Takes 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.
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.
