Track Improves Season Marks At Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Eastern Illinois track and field athletes had one final weekend to improve upon their season marks as they competed Friday evening at the Louisville Twilight as a precursor to the NCAA Regional championships being held on the same track in two weeks. Additional EIU athletes competed at the North Central Gregory Invite late Thursday and all day Friday.

Freshman Zye Boey continued his outstanding first season winning the 100m relay and running a leg on the 4x100 first place team. He posted a career best 10.20 in the 100m which catapulted him up to a tie for second on the EIU career list. He now stands even with Sandy Osei-Agyeman who posted a 10.20 in 1972. Claude Magee holds the school record at 10.16 in 1984.

Junior Kandace Arnold returned to form in the shot put posting a career best throw of 48'11.75" as the top four competitors all hit the NCAA qualifying standard. Arnold was fourth behind three throwers from host Louisville. She continues to rank second on the EIU career list behind Valeta Strickland who set the school record in 1987.

Competing at the NCC Gregory, Tyler Arnholt punched his ticket for a return trip to the NCAA Regional. Last year Arnholt earned a spot based on being the OVC meet champion. This year he passed the NCAA qualifying standard with a personal best throw of 173'03". That mark moved him up to seventh on the EIU career list.

Marcus Williams also landed on the EIU career list at Louisville on Friday evening winning the 400m run with a time of 47.54. That time places him 10th on the career charts. Brenton Pegues was second at 48.17.

Other top five performances from athletes competing in Louisville included Shawana Smith placing third in the 200m dash and fourth in the 100m dash. Brandon Jelks was fifth in the 100m dash, Kris Gehrke was third in the 400m hurdles and Ian Winston was fourth in the high jump.

In the men's 800m at NCC, EIU runners Wes Sheldon, Justin Springer, Clint Coffey and Justin Helpingstine all placed in spots 2-through-5 within one second of each other. Sheldon's time was 1:51.53 with Helpingstine's mark at 1:52.43. Sean Wiggan was also in the race finishing in eighth.

The NCAA Regional will take place on May 29-30 at Cardinal Park in Louisville.