4x800 Relay Team Fourth At Drake Relays

DES MOINES, Iowa - The first of two scheduled relay events that Eastern Illinois will compete in this weekend is in the books as the Panthers placed 4th at the Drake Relays.

 

The quartet of Wes Sheldon, Chris Wesson, Justin Helpingstine and David Holm finished 4th on Friday night in the 4x800 relay at the 99th rendition of the Drake Relays.  The team posted a time of 7:33.18 which was four seconds off the school record time set by EIU last year at Drake.

 

The 2007 team included Sheldon, Wesson and Holm along with Brad Runnion.  They also finished fourth with a time of 7:29.43.

 

Northern Iowa won this year's relay followed by Notre Dame and Wisconsin.  EIU was fourth with a two-second margin over Iowa State in fifth.  Minnesota was sixth followed by North Dakota State, Ohio State, Nebraska, Illinois, Illinois State and Indiana.

 

The same group of runners will also compete in Saturday's distance medley relay.  The Panthers also entered senior men's jumper Obe Eruteya in Saturday's triple jump.  Junior Jenna Uhe is the lone female EIU athlete at the Drake Relays competing in Saturday's long jump and triple jump.

 

The remaining Eastern Illinois athletes will travel to the SIU-Edwardsville Twilight on Saturday.