DES MOINES, Iowa. – Illinois women's track and field advanced both the 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay to Saturday's relay finals at the 109th annual Drake Relays.
The Illini contested three relays, two sprints and one distance, on Friday morning and afternoon, led by a season-best time in the 4x100m relay.
Using a unit of Briana Driver, Sade Hargrove, Emone' Davis and Janile Rogers, the Illini passed the baton around the track in a season-best time, crossing the finish line in 44.75. The first time finishing in under 45 seconds this season, the Illini bested their previous top time by a half-second (45.25) from the Jim Click Shootout on April 7. Overall, the relay placed third in heat one and fourth overall.
The Orange and Blue also advanced its 4x400m relay to Saturday's round of finals, setting the fourth best time in heat two, eighth overall, with a finishing time of 3:46.09. Sophomore Chisom Nwoko and junior Briana Driver ran the opening two legs of the race, and then freshman Amira Aduma and graduate student Nicole Choquette finished off the relay's final two trips around the track.
The Illinois distance crew of Caroline fix, Delaney Appino, Allison McGrath and Nicki Cast took sixth place in the 4x1600m relay. The all-freshmen quartet finished in 20:14.58, led by Cast's final leg of 4:59.62.
Outside of the three relays, redshirt juniors Janile Rogers and Sara McKeeman highlighted the rest of the Illini competition. Rogers set a new personal record in the long jump with a leap of 19'6.75 (5.96m), while Sara McKeeman cleared 12'9.5" (3.90m) in the pole vault.
Up next, the Hy-Vee Cup trophy will be on the line on Saturday afternoon as the Illini contest the finals of the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, as well as the distance medley and sprint medley relays.
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