Track Set To Host Friday Night Special

CHARLESTON, Ill. - With only a week until the Ohio Valley Conference Championship, the Eastern Illinois men's and women's track team will host the EIU Friday Night Special this weekend.

The Panthers are coming off an impressive meet last weekend at the Iowa State Track and Field Classic against some of the nations finest talent as the field at Iowa State included two teams ranked nationally in the top ten.

Megan Gingerich had a top ten finish as she placed 5th in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:13.50. The time was second best mark in EIU school history.

Bridget Sanchez posted a personal best in the 400 meter race finishing in 9th place with a time of 57.72 which was third best in school history.

Darren Patterson won his third OVC Male Track Athlete of the Week for an 8th place finish in the 400m dash. He finished the event in 48.00 seconds, which is 4th best in EIU history. Patterson also placed 8th in the 200 meter run with a time of 21.76, which was 7th on the career EIU list.

Ian Winston had the best finish in field events tieing for fifth in the high jump with a leap of 6'9".

Freshman Graham Morris was the first place finisher competing in the 3,000 meter non-seeded run on Friday afternoon. Morris won the event with a time of 8:42.18.

The meet is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. in the Lantz Fieldhouse. NCAA Division I schools scheduled to compete include Illinois, Illinois State, Indiana State and Southern Illinois.