April 17, 2009

Results

Mt. SAC Relays 3,000m Steeplechase Olympic Division Results (PDF)

Mt. SAC Relays Heptathlon Results (PDF)

WALNUT, Calif. - Sophomore Chantelle Groenewoud joined the Illinois women's track and field team's list of regional qualifiers on Thursday, competing in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Mt. SAC Relays at Hilmer Lodger Stadium.

Groenewoud timed 10:44.58 in the steeplechase to qualify for the NCAA Regional Championships and finish ninth in the Olympic Development division of the race. The North Vancouver native was running the event for the first time since competing in the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Southern Illinois' Mary Ballinger had the top time of the race, running 10:26.73.

Junior Alecia Beckford-Stewart was also in action for the Illini on Thursday, concluding the Mt. SAC Relays heptathlon in Azusa, Calif. Beckford-Stewart totaled 5,172 points in the heptathlon, provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. She finished fifth overall and as the second collegiate competitor in a competition featuring a number of professional athletes. Beckford-Stewart tallied the most points in the 100m hurdles (14.34 seconds, 931 points) and long jump (20-2 1/2, 899 points). Her long jump performance set a new personal best and hit the regional qualifying standard in the event.

Illinois track and field action will continue throughout the weekend. Four more distance athletes, including six-time All-American Angela Bizzarri, will compete at the Mt. SAC Relays on Friday. The Illini sprinters, hurdlers and field event athletes will compete in two separate groups on Saturday, with some at the LSU Alumni Gold Meet in Baton Rougue, La. and others in West Lafayette, Ind. at the Dave Rankin Invitational.