Gamecock Invite Results | Bryan Clay Invite Results
COLUMBIA, SC – With only four individuals competing for Illinois women's track and field this weekend, Briana Driver won the long jump with teammate Janile Rogers placed runner-up at the Gamecock Invite, while distance runners Valerie Bobart and Nicole Choquette each clocked personal-bests at the Bryan Clay Invite in Azusa, California.
Briana Driver saved her best jump for last on Saturday. After fouling on her previous four attempts, the Illini sophomore leaped 19'0.75" (5.81m) to win the event title at the Gamecock Invite. Teammate Janile Rogers placed runner-up with a mark of 18'7.75" (5.68m).
"We didn't quite get accomplished what we came to do," Head Coach Ron Garner said. "They did everything I asked of them. We still had some fouls on some big marks, so that was the area we had hoped to do better in. The thing that I'm most pleased with is the process. We came up a little short from a performance stand point, but our effort was there. She kept working through the very end of competition and got the 19'0.75" (5.81m) on the last jump to make it a solid day."
The two long jumpers also continued their progress on the track as well, as Briana Driver clocked 11.86 in the 100m and Janile Rogers set a personal-record time of 23.90 in the 200m.
"We now have two people that have run sub-24.00 second 200 meters, with Pedrya and Janile, which is a month ahead of schedule from last year," said Garner. "We didn't have anyone do that until Big Ten Championships."
Across the country, Valerie Bobart set a new personal record performance in the steeplechase, while Nicole Choquette timed her fastest outdoor 800m of her career. Both performances will likely qualify the duo for NCAA West Prelims.
"That's what we want. We want to continue to increase the number of people that we can take to the NCAA first round. Our belief as a staff is that if we can qualify and get to the NCAA first round, then we should also have athletes that can contend and score points at Big Ten Championships. It was nice to see them go out and have personal records."
Competing on Thursday evening at the Bryan Clay Invite, Bobart shaved more than three seconds off of her time from last year's Drake Relays (10:30.70), as she finished in 10:27.46.
Nicole Choquette followed suit the following afternoon in the 800m, lowering her best outdoor time in the event to 2:06.56.
Up next, the Orange and Blue return home to host the Illinois Classic on Saturday, April 22 at the Illinois Track Stadium. The meet will begin at 3 p.m. and will feature face painting and inflatables for kids, as well as Fighting Illini headbands and Papa John's pizza giveaways.
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