Track Preps For Mega Meet On Saturday

CHARLESTON ,Ill. - After over a month off, the Eastern Illinois men’s and women’s indoor track team will be back in action Saturday as the Panthers host the EIU Mega Meet at Lantz Fieldhouse. The event will begin at 9 a.m. 

Schools scheduled to compete in the event are Ohio Valley Conference foe Southeast Missouri as well as Lindenwood, McKendree and Chicago State. Missouri State and OVC rival Murray State will only send women’s teams. 

The Panthers opened the season strong in the EIU Early Bird Dec. 11, with several athletes putting their names in the Eastern record books. 

For the men, jumper Ian Winston hit an NCAA Indoor provisional mark in the high jump clearing 7’0.25”. The mark was third best in EIU history, but he finished second in the event. 

The men picked up wins in several events including the 200m dash as transfer runner Darren Patterson came in first with a time of 22.1. Sprinter Marcus Williams finished first in 400m dash with a time of 49.47, while teammate Preston Smith finished in second place in the event with a time of 50.80. 

The 4x400 relay team comprised of Sean Wiggan, Reid Basting, Patterson and Williams won with a time of 3:21.57. Freshman Bryce Hogan had an impressive first collegiate meet as he finished second in the long jump and triple jump. 

For the women, senior Kandace Arnold etched her name in the EIU history books setting a school record in shot put with a mark of 49’7.25” while winning the event. 

Senior Chandra Golden picked up two wins to start her season on the right foot. Golden won the 60m dash with a time of 7.68 and the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.73. 

The Panther women placed second in three track events includingBridget Sanchez in the 400m with a time of 59.41, Meghan Carney in the 600m with a time of 1:38.15 and Megan Gingerich in the 800m with a time of 2:17.52. Queenie Abeboyejo also made noise in the field events as she finished second in the triple jump with a distance of 38’07.75, which is sixth best in EIU history.