Panther Tracks Heads To The Big Peach

CHARLESTON, Ill. – While hundreds of competitors will invade Eastern Illinois O’Brien Stadium for the IHSA State Track meet, Panther track and field athletes will head south to compete in the Reebok Invitational in Atlanta hosted by Georgia Tech.

Three women and three men that have already qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional to be held on May 30-31 at the University of Arkansas will join seven other EIU athletes hoping to punch their tickets to the Regional.

Already earning qualifying bids and scheduled to compete this weekend are Kandace Arnold (shot put & discus), Jenna Uhe (triple jump & long jump), Chandra Golden (100 hurdles), Dorrian White (pole vault), Tyler Arnholt (discus) and Obe Eruteya (triple jump & high jump).

Additional athletes heading to Atlanta are Tarra Grant (100 meter & 400 meter) and Rachel Galligan (javelin) for the women. Brenton Emanuel (100 meters & 200 meters), David Holm (800 meters), Wes Sheldon (800 meters), Chris Wesson (800 meters) and Joe Noonan (pole vault) will compete for the EIU men.

Also in action this weekend will be Justin Helpenstine, Jason Springer, Aaron Iaun, Eric Pedersen, Derek Ericson and Erin O’Grady. Helpenstine and Springer will compete in the 800 meters while the remaining Panthers will compete in the steeplechase at the North Central College Dr. Gregory Invite.

Last weekend at the Dr. Keeler Invite, Ericson posted a time of 9:21.23 in the steeplechase which qualified him for the USATF Junior Nationals. He joins teammate Brad LaRocque who qualified earlier this season in the 10,000 meters. The USATF Junior Nationals is for competitors 19 and under.