Youth, Experience Carry Indoor Track
Saturday, December 13 2008 - EIU Early Bird
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Both youth and experience served the Eastern Illinois Panther men’s and women’s track teams well as they kicked off the indoor season on Friday night hosting the EIU Early Bird at Lantz Indoor Fieldhouse.
Eastern Illinois had nine combined first place finishes between the men and women’s teams with four freshman placing first for the EIU men while the women’s team was led by four upperclassmen.
The meet was a dual scoring meet with Indiana State going 3-0 in both the men’s and women’s fields. Eastern Illinois posted a 2-1 record in both while Western Illinois was 1-2. Butler did not win a dual scoring meet.
Heralded freshman DeMarcus Brooks had a solid debut as he won the men’s 60 meter dash in a time of 6.75. That mark was one hundredth of a second shy of the NCAA indoor provisional qualifying mark. Brooks mark also landed in sixth place on the EIU career top ten. Sophomore Chevon Walker placed second in the race with a time of 6.77 which ranks 7th on EIU’s top ten list.
Redshirt freshman Zye Boey also landed on the EIU career top ten list in his first meet placing first in the 200 meter dash with a time of 21.94 which ranks 7th. Freshman Tyler Carter won the men’s long jump with a distance of 23’3.50”.
Freshman Sean Wiggan capped the freshman performances winning the 600 meter run in 1:20.49 while David Holm won the mile with a mark of 4:19.55.
On the women’s side junior Kandace Arnold opened the season with a win in the shot put. Arnold won with a throw of 46’2.75”. Arnold currently ranks third on the EIU career list for shot put and first on the career weight throw list.
Nicole Walcott was one inch off her personal best winning the high jump at 5’5”.
On the track Shawana Smith returned to form after missing most of the 2008 indoor season with an injury. Smith captured the 200 meter dash in a time of 25.27.
Teammate Chandra Golden walked away with a win in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.71.
The Panthers will return to action after the holiday break with the EIU Mega Meet on Jan. 24.