Women's Track Third At OVC Championships

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Eastern Illinois women's track saw its slim first day lead evaporate at the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference championships as the Panthers could not defend their outdoor track championship.

EIU finished in third place with 111.50 points as Tennessee State was able to pull away based on strong performance from the Tigerbelles sprinters. TSU won the title with 164.5 points while Samford was second with 118.5 points.

After picking up the shot put title on Friday evening, sophomore Kandace Arnold punched her ticket for the NCAA Regional by winning the discus with a throw of 144’01”. It was the second best throw of her career, the best coming earlier this season with a throw of 144’02.

Arnold will have some company as two other EIU women also won their events to secure a trip to the NCAA’s. Chandra Golden and Jenna Uhe both won their events on Saturday with record performances.

Golden smashed the EIU school record in the 100 meter hurdles as she clipped the regional standard with a time of 13.70. The second place competitor in the event was Amanda McCoy of Austin Peay crossing at 14.27. Golden broke a 10 year old record in the event previously held by Candy Phillips at 13.97 in 1998.

Uhe also shot up the EIU record book winning the triple jump at 41’01.50” with a one foot win over Lankia Horn of Tennessee State. Uhe’s mark passed the regional qualifying standard and was the second best in EIU history.

Additional EIU athletes picking up points for the Panthers on the second day of the championships included: Violet Nwordu, 7th place in the 100 meters; Tarra Grant, 5th in the 200 meters; #Erin O’Grady#, 5th in the 5,000 meters and 7th in the 1,500 meters; Charay Savage, 3rd in the 100 hurdles and 8th in the triple jump; Anci Borozan, 8th in the pole vault.

The Panthers 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay teams both finished in third place.

The NCAA Mideast Regional is May 30-31 at the University of Arkansas.