The Illinois women’s track and field team looks nothing like it did last year.

After taking 14th overall in the NCAA Championships and earning nine All-American honors, the Illini were looking set for the 2013-14 season. 

Ashley Spencer had just turned out a tremendous season, recording her best time in the 400-meter dash at 50.28 seconds at nationals — a time good for a new school record, fourth best in NCAA history and fifth-best in the world this year. Spencer was then joined by teammates Marissa Golliday, Ahlivia Spencer and Morolake Akinosun to break the school record in the 1600-meter relay at 3 minutes, 29.28 seconds, a record they had already broken three times earlier in the season.

While you were out

Over the summer, the Illini lost their head coach and two of their top sprinters — all to Texas athletics.

A little more than a month after head coach Tonja Buford-Bailey left Illinois, she was joined by the star duo of junior Ashley Spencer and sophomore Morolake Akinosun.

Not only had Illinois lost 10 years of experience in Buford-Bailey’s departure, but it would no longer have two of its strongest weapons on the track.

In addition to their performances at nationals, the duo also competed in the USA Track and Field Senior and Junior Championships, where Spencer went on to represent Team USA at the world championships and Akinsosun at the Pan American Junior Championships in Medellin.

The summer wasn’t entirely filled with loss, though.

On Aug. 2, Ron Garner was announced as the new women’s head track and field coach, joining with over 25 years of coaching experience. Garner has six years of history with the Illinois program, contributing to six Big Ten Conference titles and two consecutive fourth-place finishes in the NCAA championships in 1995 and 1996.

Garner has assisted in the development of several standout athletes, such as Olympic Gold Medalist Kim Graham-Miller and Olympic Bronze Medalist and former Illini coach Tonja Buford-Bailey.

On Aug. 5, Garner added some familiarity to his staff by hiring Graham-Miller as the women’s assistant track and field coach.

“She and I go back many years,” Garner said of Graham-Miller in a press release. “Kim was an outstanding Olympian and has carried that level of success over to her coaching. She is a rising star in this business.”

Distance runners won’t be left out in the cold, either, with former Illini assistant Scott Jones returning as head cross country coach after 17 years at Akron.

Jones aided Garner in accomplishing three of the Big Ten titles from 1994-96 as well as the consecutive fourth-place finishes in the NCAAs.

What to watch for

Last season, Stephanie Richartz claimed the conference title for pole vaulting with a vault of 4.30 meters, which was also good for the school record. With Richartz returning for her senior year, it can only be expected that she will lead the fielding squad by example once more.

On the distance end of the things, Alyssa Schneider will return as well after finishing up with all-region honors last season as a redshirt freshman.

Collectively, the Illini broke 15 school records, claimed a Big Ten indoor title and delivered all-around best performances in both the indoor and outdoor NCAA Championships. While it’s a fact that the Illini have lost some pieces and undergone reconstruction, the past may serve as a good indicator that the lost trio wasn’t the only thing keeping the team strong.

J.J. is a sophomore in Media. He can be reached at [email protected]