Gingerich Sets School Record At Billy Hayes

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Eastern Illinois track and field competitors posted some top times in early competition at the Billy Hayes Invitational hosted by Indiana on Friday evening as one school record was broken while another was challenged. 

Megan Gingerich placed third in a fast field in the 800m run as she covered the distance in a time of 2:06.46. While the time was slightly behind the first and second place finishers from Indiana, the mark did set the EIU school record. Gingerich broke the school mark previously set by Lauren Lynch in 1987. 

In the men's 800m Jason Springer and Sean Wiggan paced a fast field as Springer challenged the EIU school record in the event. He won the 800m with a time of 1:49.60 which is the second fastest time in school history. Wiggan was just behind at 1:50.10 which ranks third all-time at EIU. The school record is held by Jim Maton in 1987 at 1:46.90. 

In other early results from the IU Billy Hayes Invite the men's 4x100 relay team placed second behind Indiana with a time of 40.89. The team included Brandon Jelks, Zye Boey, Darren Patterson and Marcus Williams. Patterson later took home a first place finish in the 400m run at 46.96 while Williams was the fourth place finisher at 47.56. 

Tyler Carter was the sixth place finisher in the 110m hurdles with a time of 14.92 while Caitlin Finnegan was the seventh place finisher in the women's 100m hurdles at 14.88. Jaimee Roy was sixth in the women's long jump with a distance of 18'1.75 while Carter was third in the men's long jump clearing 23'6". 

In late evening results Queenie Adeboyejo placed sixth in the triple jump at 37'6.50" and  Tyler Arnholt was fifth in the discus at 167'4". Graham Morris and Erin O'Grady  both placed second in the steeplechase.  Morris covered the course in 9:26.41 while O'Grady posted a time of 11:02.10 in what could be the senior's final collegiate race.  

The men's 4x400 relay team won their event with a time of 3:15.73.  The relay team was comprised of Wiggan, Preston Smith, Patterson and Williams.  The women's 4x400 placed third with a time of 3:57.61 with the team including Bridget Sanchez, Emily Quinones, Meghan Carney and Gingerich.

EIU will return to action at next week's Louisville Invite as the Panther individuals and relay teams that are currently ranked 48th or higher in the NCAA West Region will try to improve their seeding heading into the regional meet in Austin, Texas on May 27-29.