Indoor Season Begins On Friday

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CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Panther indoor track and field season is set to get underway on Friday (Dec. 5), as the Eastern Illinois men and women will host the annual pre-holiday Early Bird Meet inside the Lantz Fieldhouse.  The double-dual meet is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.

Besides the host Panthers, other teams participating include long-time rivals Illinois State, Southeast Missouri, and Western Illinois, in addition to the women's squad from Illinois.

Following women's pentathlon action at 1 p.m., field events (weight throw, shot put, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, and high jump) will get underway at 3 p.m.

Then starting at 4:10 p.m., a full slate of running events (mile, 60-M hurdles, 60-M dash, 400-M dash, 600-M dash, 800-M run, 200-M dash, 3K run, distance medley relay, and 4x400-M relay) will conclude the day's action.

The EIU men return a trio of All-OVC athletes from last season, led by returning OVC Male Indoor Track Athlete of the Year Calvin Edwards, as he also nabbed First Team All-OVC kudos following respective wins in both his 200-M and 400-M races last winter.  Returning distance medley relay members Ryan Ballard and Danny Trevor are also back, after each picked up Second Team All-OVC honors last season.

Meanwhile, the Panther women return seven All-OVC competitors from last year, led by Dhiaa Dean's First Team All-OVC awards in both the 800-M and third leg run in the distance medley relay unit that also earned First Team honors.  Kristen Paris, Amina Jackson and Kristen Rohrer were also part of that relay foursome, with each back in action this season.

Emily Brelsfoard and Sadie Lovett also nabbed First Team All-OVC honors following respective first place marks in the 5000-M and Pole Vault, while Annemarie Reid added a Second Team All-OVC honor in pole vault as well last winter.

Last season, both Panther units secured league runner-up honors at the end-of-season Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championship.