Kandie Bloch-Jones Scores in High Jump at B1G Championships

Stewart, Choquette advance to Sunday finals

Women's Track & Field May 13, 2017

Kandie Bloch-Jones Scores in High Jump at B1G Championships

Stewart, Choquette advance to Sunday finals

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Senior high jumper Kandie Bloch-Jones scored four points in the high jump at Big Ten Outdoor Championships, placing fifth with a height of 5'10" (1.78m) on Saturday at the Nittany Lion Track Stadium. In addition to Bloch-Jones' four points, the Illini also advanced Jayla Stewart (100m hurdles) and Nicole Choquette (800m) to event finals. The final day of the Big Ten meet begins at 10:30 a.m. central time on Sunday.

Kandie Bloch-Jones scored in the high jump at Big Ten Championships for the eighth time in her Illini career, taking fifth place on Saturday afternoon with a height of 5'10" (1.78m). The Illini senior opened with three straight clearances (1.65m, 1.70m and 1.75m) before clearing her fourth, and final, bar of the day on the third attempt.

"She had clean bars at the early heights, and that was a big improvement for her," said Head Coach Ron Garner. "Kandie was in on competing for a championship at 1.78 meters, and then when it 1.81 meters she was in their competing. I'm really proud of the four years of effort she's put in."

Sophomore Jayla Stewart advanced to the 100m hurdles final for the second straight season, clocking 13.53 to finish second in heat three and earn one of the at-large spots into Sunday's race. Kortni Smyes-Jones fell shy of advancing, finishing 12^th overall with a time of 13.58, while Pedrya Seymour was held out for precautionary reasons.

"I think the first objective in any Big Ten meet is to win the day and make the final," said Associate Head Coach Randy Gillon. "And, Jayla did that. She didn't have her best the first couple hurdles, but she did enough [to advance]. She understands the mistakes that she made, and we'll make the necessary adjustments for tomorrow's final. The hurdles are becoming a routine place for her, so I'm confident that her maturity will allow her to be successful tomorrow."

Also advancing to Sunday's round of finals was Nicole Choquette in the 800m, finishing seventh among those who advanced. Competing in the final section of the race, Choquette set a new personal-best time as she crossed the finish line in 2:06.25. It's the second time this season the Illini redshirt junior has lowered her personal-record, the first coming at Bryan Clay when she clocked 2:06.56.

"It was a smart race by Nicole, and she'll be a in a good situation for tomorrow's final," explained Garner.

After leading the Illini in the 200m dash on Friday, Janile Rogers led the Illini in both the long jump and 100m dash on Saturday.

In the long jump, Rogers leaped 18'10" (5.74m) on her final attempt of competition, while teammate Briana Driver finished just behind Rogers' mark with a jump of 18'8" (5.69m) on her first attempt. For Rogers, it was her second-best mark of the season.

Rogers returned later in the day to finish her heat in the 100m dash, clocking 11.94 out of heat two to place 12^th overall. Sophomore Sade Hargrove also clocked a sub-12 time in the event, crossing the finish line in 11.99 in heat three.

Illinois will return to the track tomorrow for Sunday's round of finals, as Jayla Stewart (100m hurdles) and Nicole Choquette (800m) compete for Big Ten titles. The Illini will also contest the triple jump as well as both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. The meet begins at 10:30 a.m. central time with the BTN2Go live stream starting at 10:30 a.m.

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Team Scores (Full Results):

1.Minnesota – 45.5

2.Michigan – 45

3.Penn State – 40

4. Purdue – 33

5.Indiana – 31

6.Nebraska – 25

6.Iowa – 25

8.Ohio State – 20.5

9.Michigan State – 20

10.Maryland – 14

11.Wisconsin – 8