Track Sets Off To Defend OVC Championship

CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois men's and women's indoor track and field teams will compete in the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championship this weekend in Nashville, Tenn. Both teams are looking to repeat as champions after sweeping the titles last season. The EIU women have previously won two championships, while the men have won 11 of the last 13 conference titles. 

Senior thrower Kandace Arnold won both the weight throw and the shot put last season and is coming off one of her top meets of her career at the EIU Friday Night Special. 

She won the OVC female field athlete of the week for fourth time this season as she improved her career marks in weight throw to 60-6.75 and the shot put to 50-2.50. Both throws are top in the OVC. 

Freshman Lamarr Pottinger was named OVC male track athlete of the week as he placed second in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.25, which is currently third best in the OVC. 

Chandra Golden had a solid meet last Friday as she finished first in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.66 and second in the 60 meter hurdles with a tine of 8.57. Golden was named co-Female Track Athlete of the Year with Diamond Benjamin of Eastern Kentucky this indoor season. Going into the conference championships, Golden had the best time in the conference in 60 meter hurldes and the fourth best time in the 55 meter dash. 

Erin O’Grady ran a personal best in the one mile run with a time of 5:01.05 which ranks fifth on the EIU charts. 

For the men, transfer Darren Patterson will look for his first OVC indoor title crown after being named co-Male Track Athlete of the Year. Patterson has the OVC's best times in both the 200 meter dash and the 400 meter run. 

In addition to Arnold, Marcus Williams and Ian Winston are also looking to repeat as OVC champions after winning first in their respective events last season. 

The OVC meet starts Friday afternoon at the Gentry Center on the campus of Tennessee State University.