Track Splits Squad For Weekend Action

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois will split its track team into two squads this weekend as the Panthers get set to compete at both the Drake Relays and the SIU Edwardsville Invite. This will be the final tune-up weekend prior to the Ohio Valley Conference Championships on May 1-2 in Richmond, Ky.

On the men’s side Brandon Jelks, DeMarcus Brooks, Zye Boey, Brenton Pegues, Pat Tortorici, Wes Sheldon, Clint Coffey, Marcus Williams, Justin Helpingstine and Jason Springer will head to Drake. For the EIU women Chandra Golden, Violet Nwordu, Tarra Grant, Shawana Smith, Megan Gingerich and Bridget Sanchez will compete at Drake.

Boey and Brooks will compete in the 100m dash while Golden will compete in the 100m hurdles. All three athletes have already qualified for the NCAA Regional in those events. EIU will also race in the 4x100 relay, 4x200 relay, 4x400 relay, 4x800 relay and sprint medley relay in Drake.

The remainder of the Panther track and field team will compete on Saturday in Edwardsville. That group will be led by Ian Winston who has qualified for the NCAA Regional in the high jump and Kandace Arnold who has already hit the NCAA standard in the shot put.

Events at Edwardsville will start on Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. with the hammer throw. Running events are slated to begin at 2 p.m.