Panther Track Hosts John Craft Invite Saturday
Thursday, January 17 2013 - John Craft Invite
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois will open the spring portion of its 2013 indoor track season this Saturday hosting the John Craft Invite. The meet will start at 9 a.m. with the weight throw. Running events are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. with the 60m hurdles. The final event of the day, the 4x400 relay, is slated to begin at 4:15 p.m.
Additional teams in the meet include Arkansas State, Memphis, Greenville College and the Illinois Track Club.
The Panthers have not competed since the season opening EIU Early Bird on Dec. 7. From that meet pole vaulters Mick Viken and Jade Riebold were named the Ohio Valley Conference Field Athletes of the Week covering the season opening meets. Viken passed his own school record in the pole vault clearing 17'5”. Riebold won the women's event with a height of 13'4.50”. Both marks currently rank in the top ten in the NCAA this season.
Other strong performances from the EIU Early Bird meet by the Panthers included Calvin Edwards with a 21.71 in the 200m, Cody Boarman with a 48.71 in the 400m, Sean Wigganwith a 1:53.33 in the 800m and Bryce Hogan with a 23'4.50” mark in the long jump. All of those marks currently rank in the top 50 in the NCAA for the men this season. On the women's side Jalisa Paramore posted a time of 8.56 in the 60m hurdles which ranks in the top 50.
The John Craft Invite is named in honor of John Craft, a former EIU & Olympic Athlete and long time EIU women's track coach. Craft competed at Eastern Illinois between 1965-69. As a senior in 1969 he won three of four National Championships as he won the NAIA, NCAA College Division and AAU titles while placing third in the NCAA University Division Championship. He would win five AAU outdoor triple jump championships (1969, 1971-74) and four indoor AAU triple jump championships (1971-74). In 1972 he set both the indoor (55'5") and outdoor (56'2") American triple jump records. He would compete as a member of the US Olympic Team at the 1972 Munich Games placing fifth in the triple jump with a distance of 55'2.75".
Additional teams in the meet include Arkansas State, Memphis, Greenville College and the Illinois Track Club.
The Panthers have not competed since the season opening EIU Early Bird on Dec. 7. From that meet pole vaulters Mick Viken and Jade Riebold were named the Ohio Valley Conference Field Athletes of the Week covering the season opening meets. Viken passed his own school record in the pole vault clearing 17'5”. Riebold won the women's event with a height of 13'4.50”. Both marks currently rank in the top ten in the NCAA this season.
Other strong performances from the EIU Early Bird meet by the Panthers included Calvin Edwards with a 21.71 in the 200m, Cody Boarman with a 48.71 in the 400m, Sean Wigganwith a 1:53.33 in the 800m and Bryce Hogan with a 23'4.50” mark in the long jump. All of those marks currently rank in the top 50 in the NCAA for the men this season. On the women's side Jalisa Paramore posted a time of 8.56 in the 60m hurdles which ranks in the top 50.
The John Craft Invite is named in honor of John Craft, a former EIU & Olympic Athlete and long time EIU women's track coach. Craft competed at Eastern Illinois between 1965-69. As a senior in 1969 he won three of four National Championships as he won the NAIA, NCAA College Division and AAU titles while placing third in the NCAA University Division Championship. He would win five AAU outdoor triple jump championships (1969, 1971-74) and four indoor AAU triple jump championships (1971-74). In 1972 he set both the indoor (55'5") and outdoor (56'2") American triple jump records. He would compete as a member of the US Olympic Team at the 1972 Munich Games placing fifth in the triple jump with a distance of 55'2.75".