EIU Men Secure OVC Title

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Eastern Illinois men's track & field team claimed first place honors at the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday (Feb. 27), while the Panther women nabbed second place honors following the two-day action at the championships.

The EIU men finished with 140 points overall to lead Southeast Missouri (134) and Tennessee State (132.50). Tennessee State won the women's division with 132 points, as EIU finished in second (99), and Eastern Kentucky in third (74).

Combined, the Panther units earned a total of 18 top three finishes, including nine first place medals.

Tom Akers, EIU director of track & field was named the Men's Coach of the Year.

During Saturday's finals, Jamal Robinson led the way for EIU with a pair of medals. Robinson won first place in the 200-meter dash (21.69) and followed that with second place honors in the 55-meter dash (6.352).

Amy Yeoman earned a pair of medals with her second place finish in the mile (4:55.23) and third place finish in the 800-meter run (2:12.84).

Other first place honors for the EIU track & field teams include Eric Gordon in the men's heptathlon (4814 points),Bryn Buckwalter in women's shotput (48'11.00"), Riley Kittridge in men's shotput (57'00.25"), Riley McInerney in the men's mile (4:12.56), and John Piper in the men's 55-meter hurdles (7.60).
Gordon finished the men's pole vault with a second place finish at 15'11".

Christian Ilunga-Matthiesen with his time of 6.354 in the men's 55-meter dash, Calvin Edwards with his time of 21.69 in the men's 200 meter dash, and the men's 4x400 relay team of Ja'Marcus Townsend, Michael Miller, Lars Ott, and Edwards with their time of 3:18.28 all finished with bronze medals in their respective events.

Next up for EIU track & field is the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 11-12 in Birmingham, Ala.

 
2016 OVC Indoor Track & Field Championships (Feb. 26-27)
Gentry Center … Tennessee State University… Nashville, Tenn.
 
Final Men's Team Standings
1- Eastern Illinois … 140
2- Southeast Missouri … 134
3- Tennessee State … 132.50
4- Eastern Kentucky … 99
5- SIU Edwardsville … 87
6- Belmont … 64.50
 
Men's OVC Coach of the Year
TOM AKERS, EIU
 
Final Women's Team Standings
1- Tennessee State … 124
2- Eastern Illinois … 99
3- Eastern Kentucky … 74
4- Murray State … 68
5- Austin Peay … 63
6- Southeast Missouri … 56
7- SIU Edwardsville … 53
8- Tennessee Tech … 49
9- Jacksonville State … 47
10- Belmont … 30
 
Women's OVC Coach of the Year
Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice, Tennessee State
 
2016 First Team All-OVC Honorees – First Place Finishers (9)
Bryn Buckwalter … W Shotput (48'11")
Eric Gordon … M Heptathlon (4814 points)
Janie Howse … W Weight Throw (62'03")
Riley Kittridge … M Shotput (57'00.25")
Haleigh Knapp … W High Jump (5'09.75")
Riley McInerney … M Mile Run (4:12.56)
Paxson Menard … M 5000-Meter Run (14:52.20)
John Piper … M 55-Meter Hurdles (7.60)
Jamal Robinson … M 200-Meter Dash (21.69)
 
2016 Second Team All-OVC Honorees – Second Place Finishers (3)
Eric Gordon … M Pole Vault (15'11")
Amy Yeoman … W Mile Run (4:55.23)
Kristen Paris, Jocelyne Mendoza, Amy Yeoman, Dhiaa Dean
… W Distance Medley (11:58.48)