Track Off To Hot Start At EIU Early Bird

Saturday, December 12 2009 - EIU Early Bird


 

Ian Winston hits NCAA Provisional Mark in High Jump
 
chandra
 

 


CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois jumper Ian Winston hit an NCAA Indoor provisional mark in the high jump while senior Chandra Goldenswept the 60m dash and 60m hurdles as the Panthers opened the 2009-10 indoor track season by hosting the Early Bird Invite on Friday night at Lantz Arena. 

Winston cleared 7’0.25” to post the third best mark in Eastern Illinois history but finished second in the event behind Major Clay of Indiana State who won the event with a jump of 7’02.25”. Winston’s previous career best was set last indoor season at a height of 6’10.25” 

Golden picked up two wins to start her final season for the Panthers. Golden won the 60m dash in a photo finish over Indiana State’s Jaquelle Spencer as both sprinters finished with a time of 7.68. Golden easily won her primary indoor event the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.73, a four second advantage of Indiana State’s Erica Moore in second place. 

In late evening action senior Kandace Arnold shattered the school record in the shot put as she won the event with a mark of 49’7.25” which was better than the previous school mark of 48’10.75 set by Valeta Strickland in 1987. Arnold’s previous best was 48’3.50”. She finished just 0.75 inches ahead of Felisha Johnson of Indiana State.

The Panther men received additional first place finishes on the night by transfer runner Darren Patterson in the 200m as he won the event in a time of 22.10. Marcus Williams and Preston Smith finished 1,2 in the 400m dash with Williams in at 49.47 and Smith at 50.80. The EIU 4x400 relay team comprised of Sean Wiggan, Reid Basting, Patterson and Williams won with a time of 3:21.57 nearly four seconds ahead of second place Western Illinois.  Freshman Bryce Hogan took home a pair of second place finishes in the long jump and triple jump.

The EIU women received top two performances from several athletes with Bridget Sanchez placing second in the 400m at 59.41. Meghan Carney was second in the 600m at 1:38.15 and Megan Gingerichsecond in the 800m with a mark of 2:17.52. The women’s 4x400 relay team also placed second behind Indiana State. In field events Queenie Abeboyejo was second in the triple jump with a distance of 38’07.75 which is sixth best in EIU history.