The Illinois women’s track and field team has put together a run of good form to close out the semester. The Illini have been impressive all year, winning the indoor Big Ten Championships, Hy-Vee Cup at the Drake Relays and breaking several school records.
“We got a lot of things accomplished,” head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey said. “Everybody performed well and we pushed hard. We have just tried to come out of each meet with success and that’s what we’ve done so far.”
With the team still in-season and approaching the Big Ten outdoor championships, the squad is not looking to just take its foot off the gas and slow down just yet. Sophomore sprinter Ashley Spencer said they are working through everything they can. Facing six-hour workouts, a litany of final exams and projects, the team has been able to get through it with encouragement from its coach.
“Coach Bailey jokes around with us and keeps it lighthearted,” Ahlivia Spencer said. “She also pushes and encourages us when it’s needed. Even though it hurts like hell, she encourages you to get through that workout, and she can advise us because she graduated from here and has been through this. She’s such a rock, and she’s so determined, and that has rubbed off on the whole team.”
The team has taken that inspiration to set eight new school records this season from individual track and field events to relays. Junior pole vaulter Stephanie Richartz was able to set the highest jump in school history with an impressive vault of 4.25 meters. The team of Morolake Akinosun, Ashley Spencer, Ahlivia Spencer and Samantha Murphy was able to break the school’s 1600 meter sprint medley record that had stood for 18 years.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Led by the 2012 Big Ten Coach and Athlete of the Year, the Illini are in line for some top finishes for a couple of years to come.
“Coach Bailey instills a lot of character and hard work into the team,” Ashley Spencer said. “With the girls already here and the recruits that are coming in, I see a whole lot of success for the Illini women’s track team. I’m really excited about it.”
Lanre can be reached at [email protected] and @WriterLanre.
