WILSON SETS SCHOOL RECORD IN OUTDOOR OPENER

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men's and women's track opened the outdoor season over the weekend at the SIU Bill Cornell Spring Classic.  EIU finished the meet with 20 top five finishes including one school record.

Sophomore MaKenna Wilson set the school record for the Panthers in the women's hammer with a throw of 173'8" which placed fifth in the event.  It was one of two top five finishes for Wilson as she also placed third in the javelin with a throw of 126'9".  Kaitlyn Ebert finished fifth in the women's javelin with a throw of 112'7". 

Clayton Turner and Nicholas Phillips turned in top five finishes for the EIU men in throws.  Turner was fifth in the javelin with a throw of 148'7".  Phillips was fourth in the hammer with a mark of 179'1".  Senior Joe Smith was second in the long jump clearing 23'1.75".

On the track Pedra Hicks and Jekeel Suber both posted a pair of top five hurdle finishes for the Panther women and men.  Hicks was third in the women's 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.66.  She was also third in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:02.60.  Suber was second in the men's 110 meter hurdles with a time of 15.16.  He was fifth in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 57.13.  Teammate Riley Bakerwas second in the men's 400 meter hurdles with a time of 55.46.

EIU had four additional men's top five finishes at the meet.  Tyler Lay was third in the steeplechase with a time of 9:57.90.  Andrew Pilat was third in the 5,000 meter run with a time of 15:20.03.  In the men's 100 meter dash, Brandan Lane and Tadiwa Mhonde crossed in fourth and fifth.  Lane's time was 11.07 followed by Mhonde at 11.20.

Vivica Coleman was the final EIU women's team member with an individual top five finish on the day.  Coleman was fifth in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.45.

The men added two top five finishes in relay events.  The 4x400 relay team was second with a time of 3:20.57 with the team consisting of Lane, Anthony Bello, Baker and Mhonde.  The 4x100 relay team was fourth with a time of 43.50.  That relay team included Lane, Ricky Owens, Bello and Mhonde.

The women's 4x400 team placed third in its event.  Hicks, Morgan Atchison, Sophia Keith and Louisa Rieger comprised the relay team that finished with a time of 4:02.49.