Two Illini Score, Four Advance on Day 1 of Big Ten Championships

Friday, February 23

Geneva, Ohio

ALL DAY

University of Illinois

Big Ten Indoor Championships

Two Illini Score, Four Advance on Day 1 of Big Ten Championships

February 23, 2018 | Women's Track & Field

Driver, McKeeman place fifth in field events

GENEVA, OH – Illinois women's track placed fifth in the a pair of field events and advanced four to Saturday track finals on day one of Big Ten Indoor Championships inside the Spire Institute. Redshirt junior Sara McKeeman, pole vault, and junior Briana Driver, long jump, both scored for the first time individually at Big Ten Championships with fifth-place finishes. The Illini added finals qualifying performances from Chisom Nwoko (400m), Nicole Choquette (800m), Rebecca Craddock (mile) and Jayla Stewart (60m hurdles).

Full results can be found here.

"For Sara [McKeeman] and Briana [Driver,] I've watched both of them over the past couple of years, especially last year, and I'm thankful that they're having their moments," said head coach Turk. I'm also really pleased to have as many qualifiers as we do on the women's side. I wasn't sure what to expect. A lot of these girls have been through some really tough times with injuries, poor performances, and to see them perform well at the conference meet is what this is all about. I'm happy that they've been able to change their experiences, rewrite their highlight reel so to speak. To see them walk out with smiles on their face is gratifying."

Twice clearing a personal-best bar on Saturday, McKeeman earned her fifth-place finish by clearing five bars the first two on her first attempt. After advancing past 13'0.75" (3.98m) on her third attempt, McKeeman sailed over 13'2.5" (4.03m) on her second attempt at the height. The final bar of the afternoon marked her second personal record of the day, as the Fort Wayne, Indiana native cleared 13'4.5" (4.08m) on her last attempt.

Driver doubled the Illinois output for day one in the final scored event of the day, setting an indoor personal-best mark in the long jump. Posting the top jump of flight two, the junior jumped 19 feet, seven inches (5.95m) to edge out Purdue's Jaden Mattox (19'6.25"). Like McKeeman, Driver's point-scoring performance is the first of her career at a conference meet.

Adding four finals qualifiers on the track, two of the four performances moved into Illinois' all-time lists.

Sophomore Chisom Nwoko moved into second place on the program's all-time list behind record holder Ashley Spencer, timing 53.26 for the fifth-fastest time in qualifying. Advancing to her first Big Ten final, Nwoko's time improved her personal record by 0.9 seconds.

"I thought Chi [Nwoko] got off to a really fast start in the 400m," said Turk of the performance. "That was a big opener for us. She just walked right out there like she owned the place. I think she drew a quality heat that really helped her, but she took advantage of it. She's very talented, and she's not a finished product."

Making her entry on the indoor list this season, true freshman Rebecca Craddock lowered her mile personal best by five seconds, finishing in 4:43.51, for seventh best in program history. Craddock has set a personal record in every event she's contested this indoor season.

"For a freshman to come into this conference in that event, the mile, that's super competitive and loaded with All-American experience," Turk said of Craddock's. "For her to be poised the way she was, and to run with the control and effort that she did is not an easy task for a freshman. I thought she stuck her nose in there and did a great job. I'm looking forward to what she can do tomorrow and in the future."

A pair of upperclassmen rounded out the four qualifying performances, as Nicole Choquette advanced to the 800m and Jayla Stewart in the 60m hurdles. Overall, Choquette's time ranked third among the eight qualifying times.

"They were both really good," Turk said of the two veteran finalists. "Jayla has had some ups and downs this season, but they're experienced people. I expected Nicole to do well, she's a great competitor and always turns it up on the big stage. Jayla has had a rough go of things in her life over the past few weeks and months, and I think to see her perform that way is a testament to her desire and commitment, but also to an improvement in the culture of the program."

Choquette's time of 2:07.50 placed her second in heat two, earning the heat's second automatic qualifying spot, while Stewart who lowered her best time of the season to 8.31 out of lane nine of the opening heat.

Joining Stewart in the heat, freshman Maya Seay set a new personal record with a 8.67 time.

Although not advancing to finals, freshman Amira Aduma lowered her personal record in both the 60m and 200m. After timing 7.57 in the 60m at Iowa State, Aduma lowered to 7.52 to place 11^th overall. Likewise, Aduma shaved another hundredth off on Friday with a time of 24.68.

The Fighting Illini continue competition at Big Ten Championships tomorrow, February 24, with field and track finals. Day two begins at 9 a.m. central time with the conclusion of the heptathlon. BTN Plus and FloTrack will stream day two of the meet live with subscription to either platform.

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

Pole Vault

5. Sara McKeeman, 13'4.5" (4.08m) – 4 points

T-13. Chisom Nwoko, 12'6.75" (3.83m)

Long Jump

5. Briana Driver, 19'7" (5.97m) – 4 points

14. Janile Rogers, 19'0.75" (5.81m)

22. Sade Hargrove, 18'2.25" (5.54m)

Mile

8. Rebecca Craddock, 4:43.51q

20. Caroline Fix, 5:05.95

400m