Track Set To Compete In NCAA Regional

EASTERN ILLINOIS OVERVIEW: The Panthers won the Ohio Valley Conference men’s and women’s conference outdoor track championships. The Panther men advanced six individuals competing in eight events to the Regional. The Panther women advanced four individuals competing in six events. Both men’s and women’s 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams earned spots in Louisville.

EIU MEN:

Tyler Arnholt (RS-Sophomore/Mattoon, Il.) - Arnholt will compete in the discus after surpassing the NCAA qualifying mark with a personal best of 173’03” (ranks 7th on EIU career list)... placed third at OVC championships... making second NCAA Regional appearance in discus.

Zye Boey (RS-Freshman/Decatur, Ill.) - Boey will compete in the 100m and 200m as the OVC conference champion... hit NCAA qualifying mark in both events as he was named the OVC Male Track Athlete of the Year... ranks 10th in the nation in the 100m dash with a personal best of 10.20 (mark ranks 2nd all-time at EIU)... best time in 200m was 20.92... qualified for NCAA Indoor National Championships in 200m earlier this year.

Brad Butler (RS-Senior/Monticello, Ill.) - Butler will compete in the 10,000m run after winning the OVC championship with a time of 32:06.54... making second NCAA Regional appearance... personal best is 31:11.24.

Kris Gehrke (Junior/Hawthorne Woods, Ill.) - Gehrke will compete in the 400m hurdles after winning the OVC championship... hit NCAA regional mark with a personal best of 52.09 (ranks 9th on EIU career list).

Joe Noonan (Sophomore/Frankfort, Ill.) - Noonan will compete in the pole vault after winning the OVC championship... personal outdoor best is 16’00.75” which ranks 6th on EIU career list.

Ian Winston (Junior/Champaign, Ill.) - Winston will compete in two events after winning the high jump and triple jump at the OVC championships... hit NCAA regional qualifying mark in the high jump at 6’10.75” (ranks 3rd on EIU career list).

4x100 Relay - team posted a season best time of 40.69 at the Drake Relays... will compete as the OVC champion... line-up includes Brandon Jelks, Zye Boey, Brenton Pegues and Marcus Williams.

4x400 Relay - team posted a season best time of 3:10.89 at the EIU Big Blue Classic... will compete as the OVC champion... line-up includes Brenton Pegues, Wes Sheldon, Zye Boey and Marcus Williams.

EIU WOMEN:

Kandace Arnold (Junior/Evergreen Park, Ill.) - Arnold is making her third straight NCAA Regional appearance in the shot put... hit NCAA Regional qualifying mark with a season best of 48’11.75” (ranks 2nd on EIU career list)... placed second at OVC championships.

Chandra Golden (RS-Junior/Normal, Ill.) - Golden is making her third NCAA Regional appearance and will compete in the 100m and 400m hurdles as the OVC conference champion... holds school record in both events hitting NCAA Regional mark in the 100m at 13.70... personal best in 400m hurdles is 1:01.49.

Shawana Smith (RS-Junior/Chicago, Ill.) - Smith will compete in two events as the OVC champion in the 100m and 200m dash... holds school record in the 100m with a time of 11.64 set at OVC meet... personal best in 200m is 23.82 also at OVC championships which ranks 2nd at EIU... Smith is competing in her second NCAA Regional.

Nicole Walcott (Senior/Markham, Ontario) - Walcott will compete in the high jump as the OVC champion... ranks 8th on EIU career list with a height of 5’06”...

4x100 Relay - team posted a season best time of 45.55 at the Indiana Billy Hayes... will compete as the OVC champion... line-up includes Violet Nwordu, Chandra Golden, Tarra Grant and Shawana Smith.

4x400 Relay - team posted a season best time of 3:44.61 at the Indiana Billy Hayes... will compete as the OVC champion... line-up includes Bridget Sanchez, Violet Nwordu, Megan Gingerich and Shawana Smith.

LAST TIME IT HAPPENED: Eastern Illinois has advanced seven athletes to the NCAA Outdoor National Championships (all seven male athletes) since the program moved to the NCAA Division I level in 1981... the last to do it was Ron White in 2002 in the javelin... the last track athlete to advance was Dan Steele in 1992 in the 400m hurdles.