Three Panthers Nationally Ranked In Track

CHARLESTON, Ill. – With the halfway point of the 2010 outdoor track and field season just passing last week three Eastern Illinois athletes find themselves ranked nationally as the Panthers enter the home stretch of the season. EIU will compete this weekend at the Drake Relays before defending their Ohio Valley Conference championship next weekend at Tennessee Tech. 

Entering the weekend with national Top 30 rankings in an event areIan Winston, Kandace Arnold and Megan Gingerich. All three have qualified for this weekend’s Drake Relays giving the Panthers a record setting 23 entries in the event. 

Winston currently ranks 20th nationally in the high jump as he cleared 7’0.50” last weekend at the SIUE Gateway Classic. It was the first event of the outdoor season for Winston who set the school record as he became the first EIU athlete to clear the 7’ barrier during outdoor competition. 

Arnold currently ranks 17th nationally in the shot put as she won the event at the SIUE Gateway Classic last weekend with a toss of 52’1.75”. Arnold holds the school record in the shot put, discus and hammer and her toss of 52’ plus last weekend made her the first EIU athlete to crack the 50’ barrier in the shot put. 

Gingerich was a third place finisher in the 800m at the Vanderbilt Invite last weekend but her time of 2:07.55 was good enough to land her in the No. 30 spot on the national performance list this week. Gingerich’s effort placed her second all-time in the EIU career books in the event.