O'Grady Sets School Record At Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Eastern Illinois had its final regular-season competition on Friday evening as the Panthers track and field team competed in the Louisville Cardinal Twilight which served as a Last Chance Meet for the NCAA Regional in two weeks in Austin, Texas. 

This season the NCAA has moved to a two region format in which the top 48 in each region plus ties will earn bids in the NCAA Regional. EIU will compete in the NCAA West Region and heading into this weekend’s meet had eleven individuals and two relay teams ranked in the Top 48. 

In the men’s 800m the Panthers already had one top time heading into the weekend with Jason Springer’s 1:49.60 from last week at the IU Billy Hayes. On Friday Springer turned in a time of 1:49.83 but that was only good enough for third. Teammate Sean Wiggan won the race with a time of 1:49.54 which moved him into second on the EIU all time list. Wes Sheldon was fourth at 1:50.71 which moved him up to sixth on the EIU career list while David Holm was seventh at 1:52.05. 

On the women’s side senior Erin O’Grady turned in the best performance of her career setting the school record in the steeplechase with a time of 10:44.45. O’Grady smashed the previous school record by nearly 13 seconds. Megan Gingerich ran the 400m placing second with a time of 56.20 which landed her 8th on the EIU career list. 

In men’s track events Darren Patterson was second in the 200m at 21.29 with Zye Boey placing 4th at 21.54. Boey was the second place finisher in the 100m at 10.72 as the event was run into a head wind.Brandon Jelks was 11th in the 100m at 11.12. Marcus Williams placed third in the 400m at 47.77. 

In the 400m hurdles Pat Tortorici was 4th with a time of 53.40 withPreston Smith 6th at 53.84 and Chad Aubin 8th at 54.45. The men’s 4x100 relay team was third with a time of 41.18. 

Meghan Carney rounded out the women’s track competitors placing 9th in the 800m at 2:15.46. 

In women’s field events Kandace Arnold was 6th in the shot put and 7th in the discus. Arnold had a toss of 49’9” in the shot put and 157’ in the discus. Queenie Adeboyejo placed 3rd in the triple jump at 38’11” while Jaimee Roy was 5th in the long jump at 18’5.75” 

Tyler Arnholt was the lone male field event competitor for the Panthers finishing 8th in the discus at 163’10”.