Track Breaks School Record At Drake Relays

DES MOINES, Iowa - Eastern Illinois men's and women's track set one school record and posted two other top five all-time results as the Panthers competed at the 100th running of the Drake Relays on Friday. Competition will resume for two EIU relay teams and two individuals on Saturday.

The men's 4x800 relay team comprised of Wes Sheldon, Jason Springer, Justin Helpingstine and Clint Coffey posted a time of 7:28.11 which placed seventh in the event. However the time was good enough to break the EIU school record which was previously set at the Drake Relays in 2007. The Panthers trimmed nearly one second off their previous school mark. Wisconsin won the event with a time of 7:21.10.

The women's 4x100 relay team consisting of Violet Nwordu, Chandra Golden, Tarra Grant and
Shawana Smith posted a prelim time of 46.39 on Friday afternoon which landed the Panthers in the eight team final on Saturday in the No. 8 position. The time landed as the third best in EIU history. Baylor posted the top prelim time with a mark of 44.60.

The men's 4x100 relay team also rocketed up the EIU career record book with a time of 40.69 which was fourth fastest in EIU history. The time just missed the NCAA Regional standard by 0.03 seconds as the Panthers prelim time was the fifth fastest on Friday. The relay team consisted of Brandon Jelks, DeMarcus Brooks, Zye Boey and Brenton Pegues.

Boey and Brooks also competed in the 100m dash with the pair of EIU freshman recording the top two prelim times to advance to Saturday's event finals.

Also competing on Friday was the women's 4x200 relay team which placed seventh. The men's and women's 4x400 teams both missed the finals in their events with the men finishing 13th overall and the women 22nd.