Track Continues NCAA Prep At Indiana

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois track and field athletes continued to compete as a split squad headed to the Billy Hayes Invitational and the Dr. Keeler Invitational.

The Panthers have qualified six athletes in seven events for the NCAA Mideast Regional to be hosted by the University of Arkansas on May 30-31. The remaining athletes in competition are closing out their seasons attempting to hit a regional mark.

Traveling to the Billy Hayes Invitational hosted by Indiana University, the Panthers picked up one individual championship and had strong finishes by several other athletes.

Freshman pole vaulter Joe Noonan won his event with mark of 15’11”. Junior David Holm led a pack of EIU runners to a strong finish in the 800 meters as Holm placed second followed by Wes Sheldon in third and Chris Wesson in fourth.

Senior Brenton Emanuel had a seventh and eighth place showing in the 100 and 200 meter dashes.

On the women’s side Chandra Golden and Rachel Galligan each posted top four finishes. Golden was fourth in the 100 meter hurdles at 14.03 while Galligan was fourth in the javelin at 126’07”.

Kandace Arnold and Tarra Grant rounded out the top women’s performers with each placing seventh. Arnold was seventh in the discus with a throw of 137’08” while Grant was seventh in the 100 dash.

Additional distance runners competed for EIU at the Dr. Keeler Invitational hosted by North Central College in Naperville, Ill. #Erin O’Grady# was the top female performer coming in 14th in the 1,500 meter run. Derek Ericson was the men’s top performer with a 13th place effort in the steeplechase.