Panthers Attempt To Qualify For Track Regional

ATLANTA - A contingent of Eastern Illinois track and field athletes competed at the Georgia Tech Invitational over the weekend attempting to hit an NCAA qualifying mark, unfortusteeplewebly none were able to add their name to the list of Panthers now headed to the NCAA Mideast Regional.

Kandace Arnold set herself up for a possible point scoring opportunity at the NCAA's with a third place finish in the shot put.  She had a distance of 47'06.50" as the top four finishers each had marks above the NCAA standard.  Brittany Prior of Virginia Tech was first followed by Khadija Talley of Miami (Fla.) in second.  Arnold was also sixth in the discus.  She will compete in both events at the NCAA's.

Chandra Golden placed 15th in the 100 meter hurdles in her final race prior to the NCAA Mideast Regional.  The top six finishers in the event all hit the NCAA regional mark.

Jenna Uhe placed 18th in the triple jump.  Tarra Grant competed in the 100 and 400 meter runs, her top finish was 31st in the 400.  Rachel Galligan was seventh in the javelin.  Uhe will compete in the triple jump at the NCAA's while Grant and Galligan's seasons are complete.

Brenton Emanuel had a pair of Top 30 finishes for the EIU men in his final two collegiate events, the 100 and 200 meter runs.  David Holm just missed the NCAA mark in the 800 meters as he improved his career best time to 1:50.46, just missing the cut at 1:50.40.  Holm was 8th while Wes Sheldon and Chris Wesson also finished in the top 20 in the 800 meters.

Tyler Arnholt placed 10th in the discus while Joe Noonan and Dorrian White both failed to clear a height in the pole vault.  Senior Obe Eruteya missed on the triple jump and was 12th in the high jump.

Eruteya, White and Arnholt will all compete at the NCAA Mideast Regional on May 30-31 at the University of Arkansas.  They will join Arnold, Golden and Uhe from the EIU women's team.

Clint Coffey was the Panther men's top finisher at the North Central College Gregory Invite with a fifth place showing in the 800 meters.