Panther Track Wins John Craft Invite

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois men's and women's track both placed first at the John Craft Invite hosted by the Panthers on Saturday afternoon at Lantz Fieldhouse.  Following the meet EIU was presented with its 2013 OVC Championship rings.

The Panthers picked up 20 first place finishes between the men's and women's team.  The meet included teams from Bradley, Murray State, Western Illinois, UW Milwaukee and Judson University.

Jalisa Paramore was a dual event winner for the EIU women as she placed first in the 60m hurdles and long jump.  Paramore won the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.75.  Paramore won the long jump with a mark of 18'2.50"

Calvin Edwards had three first place finishes on Saturday for the EIU men with two as an individual and one as the anchor on the 4x400 relay team.  Edwards won the 200m dash with a time of 21.92. He won the 400m with a time of 49.14.  The 4x400 relay team had a time of 3:22.38 which included Christian Kolb, Danny Trevor, Aquintas Williams and Edwards.

In field events Kendall Williams swept the men's sand jumps.  He won the long jump with a mark of 22'3".  His winning distance in the triple jump was 46'2.50".

Ashley Fouch had two first place finishes one by winning the 400m and the other as the anchor on the 4x400 team.  Fouch won the 400m with a time of 59.79.  The 4x400 team had a time of 3:59.35 with Dhiaa Dean, Cassidy Strohl, Amina Jackson and Fouch on the team.

EIU swept the individual titles for both the men and women in the 600m, 800m, 3K and the pole vault.

Kolb won the men's 600m with a time of 1:24.10.  Dean won the women's 600m with a time of 1:35.18.

Julie James won the women's 800m with a time of 2:19.05.  Ryan Ballard won the men's 800m with a time of 1:55.75.

Mike Hesslau won the men's 3K with a time of 8:28.96.  Emily Brelsfoard won the women's 3K with a time of 10:19.52.

Mike Viken won men's pole vault with a height of 17'7".  Kirstie Wieber won the women's pole vault with a height of 12'3.50".

EIU's other three first place finishes came in the men's 60m dash, men's mile and men's high jump.  Johnathan Boey won the men's 60m with a time of 6.71.  Pablo Ramirezwon the men's mile with a time of 4:15.65.  Aviance King won the men's high jump clearing 6'8".

EIU returns to action next weekend at the Northern Iowa Meet.