EIU Posts Eight First Place Finishes At OVC Day 1

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Eastern Illinois men's and women's track stands in second place following the first day of competition at the 2012 Ohio Valley Conference Championships.  EIU posted eight individual first place finishes to open the day. 

On the men's side host Southeast Missouri leads with 97 points through seven completed events.  EIU is second with 65.5 points followed by Eastern Kentucky in a distance third with 28.5 points.

On the women's side SEMO has 83 points to lead after seven events.  EIU is second with 72.5 points followed by Murray State with 43 points and Jacksonville State with 30.

EIU swept men's and women's first place honors in the pole vault, discus and steeplechase with additional first place finishes in the women's high jump and men's long jump.

Jade Riebold won the women's pole vault setting a meet record with a height of 12'5.50".  Joe Noonan won the men's pole vault with a height of 15'5.50".  Dan Chalus was second with a height of 14'11.50".

Jared Diaz won the men's discus with a throw of 165'8".  Condia Smith won the women's discus with a throw of 147'9".

Britney Whitehead and Olivia Klaus placed one, two in the women's steeplechase.  Whitehead posted a time of 10:54.92 with Klaus running a time of 11:05.77.  Graham Morriswon the men's steeplechase with a 9:27.47.

Bryce Hogan won the men's long jump with a mark of 24'11.25".  Maura Cummins won the women's high jump with a height of 5'8.50, a new personal best.

The Panthers advanced a number athletes to Saturday finals in sprints.  Competition resumes at 10 a.m. on Saturday.