Williams Punches Second Ticket To NCAA Championships

AUSTIN, Texas – On the first day of competition at the 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary, Illinois State senior thrower Jianna Williams finished fourth in the hammer throw to advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.  On Saturday, she earned a spot at the NCAA Championships in the shot put as well and will represent ISU in both events on the biggest stage.

Williams competed in flight four and fouled on her first attempt, but recorded a throw of 51-11 on her second attempt to put her right in the hunt to advance.  Despite a foul on her third and final attempt, Williams finished 11th overall and advanced in the top 12 from the West Region. 

In the final event of the night and the three-day meet, the men's 4x400 meter relay team of Antonio Farley, CJ Hamilton, Jalen Lewis and Anderson Devonish took the track looking to finish in the top 12 and advance on.  The team ran a school-record breaking time of 3:06.51, but it was not enough as the group finished just outside of the top 12 in 14th place overall. 

"It was a great day for the Redbirds and a strong finish to the weekend," Illinois State Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Jeff Bovee said.  "We were extremely proud of Jianna for qualifying for the NCAA Championship in the shot put for the first time. She had a couple fouls, but her second throw was good enough to get her in and it will be great to watch her compete in both the shot and hammer in Eugene.  The 4x400 relay set a new school-record in the event and only missed the NCAA missed by a couple of tenths, but they all ran extremely well and did a tremendous job."

Teammate Morgan Keller also competed in the events and her throw of 49-00.75 on her second attempt was good for 27th in the field in her first appearance at the NCAA regional. Senior pole vaulter Chase Pavelonis was also in action against some of the best athletes in the country and got off to a great start clearing the first three bars of the day.  However, he was not able to clear the fourth progression and finished in a tie for 16th place with a final height of 17-00.75.

"I was impressed with Morgan today, as she finished well above where she was seeded headed into the meet," Bovee said.  "Chase had a great series and was clean until 17-01 and missed that next bar, which would have advanced him through to the NCAA meet.  However, he bounced back from a difficult day at the MVC Championships and his capped off his career with a fine performance."

Williams (hammer and shot put) and Devonish (400 meter dash) will have a week of preparation, before heading to Eugene, Oregon, June 10-13 to compete at the 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.  Devonish is set to compete in the semifinals on Wednesday, June 10, and Williams will hit the track Thursday, June 11.  

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