Track Looks To Improve Performance Marks

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Fresh off defense of its Ohio Valley Conference championships the Eastern Illinois men’s and women’s track teams will send a group of athletes to the Billy Hayes Invitational hosted by Indiana University on Friday evening looking to improve upon their current 2010 performance marks. 

This season the NCAA has elimisteeplewebd automatic qualifiers from the outdoor championships and created two regional meets which will serve as feeders into the NCAA National Outdoor Championships. Eastern Illinois has been slated to compete in the NCAA West Regional which will take place May 27-29 at the University of Texas. The top 48 athletes plus ties in each region will be invited to compete with the chance to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 9-12 at the University of Oregon. 

Currently eight men’s individuals/relays and four women’s individuals are ranked in the top 48 in their respective events entering this weekend. A handful of other athletes are within striking distance of the top 48 and will look to crack the list with a top time at Indiana. 

Leading the men’s group of qualifiers in the track events is Zye Boeywho currently ranks 29th in the 100m dash with a top season time of 10.49. Boey is looking to make a return to the NCAA National Championships where he earned a trip in the 100m last year. Joining Boey on the 100m list is Jacob Mitchell who sits in 36th on the 100m list at 10.53. 

Darren Patterson rounds out the sprinters who currently rank in the top 48 with his time of 47.32 in the 400m landing in 43rd position. The Panthers currently have two relay teams in the top 48 with the 4x100 ranking 23rd with a time of 40.32 and the 4x400 relay ranking 39th with a mark of 3:09.99. 

In men’s field events Ian Winston has the highest regional ranking on the men’s side sitting in 12th place in the high jump with a mark of 7’0.50”. Tyler Arnholt is 43rd in the discus at 173’3” and Sean Hopkinsis 41st in the decathlon with a point total of 6,651. 

On the women’s side Kandace Arnold is the lone Panther to be ranked in two individual events. Arnold is 11th in the shot put at 52’1.75” while ranking 21st in the discus at 165’7”. 

A pair of local products are also ranked for the EIU women with Arcola’s Megan Gingerich 21st in the 800m at 2:07.55 and Neoga’sJamiee Roy 38th in the long jump at 19’9.50”. 

Leading the list of athletes who are just outside the cut off mark of 48 are Chad Aubin who is 50th in the 400m hurdles at 52.48, Jason Springer who is 51st in the 800m at 1:50.37, Dominique Hall in the 110m hurdles at 14.48 and Queenie Adeboyejo in the women’s triple jump at 56th with a distance of 39’8”.