FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Illinois women’s track and field squad opened up competition on Friday at the Tyson Invitational with two Illini recording school records at the Randal Tyson Track Center. Freshman Ashley Spencer highlighted the running events, setting a new Illinois record in the 400m with a time of 53.45 while sophomore Stephanie Richartz turned in yet another great showing in the pole vault, clearing a height of 13-10 (4.22m) to take second in the event and set another Illinois school record.
“I think we did really well as a team,” head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey said. “Ashley Spencer ran a really smart race and to set a school record as a freshman is a great achievement. Stephanie Richartz also continues to get better and better each week. She’s having a superior sophomore year so far. Courtney Yaegeralso ran a great race, definitely putting her in contention to score points for us at the Big Ten meet.”
Sophomore Breeana Coleman qualified for the finals in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.32 which ranks the eighth fastest in school history. Sophomore Jesica Ejesieme notched the same time (8.32) in the prelims of the hurdle race and nearly missed the finals of the event, running a time of 8.45 in the semifinals. In the 5,000m invitational, junior Courtney Yaeger took fourth with a personal-best time of 16:50.59 which ranks sixth fastest in school history while sophomore Meghan Frigo finished her first 5,000m race in a time of 17:22.71.
In the long jump, junior Kawanna Brooks finished seventh with a personal-best bound of 19-4 (5.89m) while junior Marissa Gollidaytied for 11th in the high jump with a mark of 5-4 ½ (1.63m).
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