Team hits the road for competition

LaDonna Martin, a senior jumper, runs the 60-meter dash preliminaries Jan. 22 during the EIU Mega Meet in the Lantz Fieldhouse. (Danny Damiani | The Daily Eastern News)

With the Eastern track and field team split up at different meets across the country, the Panthers still managed to put up impressive performances against some of the nation's best competition.

Some team members competed at the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa. Junior Tyler Carter was the lone first place finisher for the Panthers. Carter placed first in the men's long jump with a distance of 24-feet, 75-inches. Carter's best long jump performance last season came at this same meet. Carter's distance at the Iowa State Classic last season was 23-feet, 3.50-inches.

At the beginning of the season, head coach Tom Akers said he was impressed with Carter's performances and looked forward to seeing him make a splash this season. 

The women's distance medley relay team set a new school record at the Classic with a time of 11:55.94. The team consisting of sophomore Paige Biehler, junior Emily Quinones, junior Erika Foltys and sophomore Erika Ramos topped the previous record of 12.01.91, set in 2007. Though a school record, the time was still not fast enough to win the event, as the team finished seventh.

Sophomore Gaby Duenas made her way onto the all-time Eastern list with a 17:52.21 finish in the women's 3,000-meter race. The time ranks third on Eastern's career list. Duenas finished sixth in the event.

Other members of the team went to compete at the Indiana Hoosier Hills Meet at the University of Indiana. Finishing in first place for the Panthers was sophomore Randolph Tripple in the men's triple jump with a mark of 46 feet, 11 inches. Tripple, who is also a cornerback on the Eastern football team, also placed fourth in the long jump event with a mark of 21 feet, 6 inches.

Also at the Hoosier Hills Meet, sophomore Michelle Pranger made her way onto the all-time Eastern list with a throw of 49 feet, 7 inches. Pranger's weight throw mark lands her as the No. 10 farthest in Eastern history. Pranger placed ninth in the event.

The two lone competitors for the Panthers at the Tyson Invitational were red-shirt juniors Zye Boey and Megan Gingerich. Boey placed fifth in the men's 200-meter dash with a time of 20.97 seconds. 

The fifth place finish is the lowest of the season for Boey, who ranks as one of the nations top 200-meter sprinters. Gingerich finished 14th in the 800-meter with a time of 2:11.84. Boey will look to compete at the University or Arkansas again next month for the NCAA Indoor Championship.

Boey, who missed the entire indoor season last year, has rebounded during this year's indoor season.

"With Zye (Boey) being back, having him indoors and outdoors is a big plus for us," Akers said.

Boey has been one of the leaders on the Panther squad, finishing in the top five in every event he has competed in this season.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-7944 or dcrenzetti@eiu.edu.