TRACK POSTS FIVE FIRST PLACE FINISHES

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Rainy and cold conditions forced the cancellation of several events at this year's Eastern Illinois Big Blue Classic on Saturday afternoon. 

The weather, however, did not prevent the Panthers track and field teams from posting five individual event wins and adding fifteen more top three finishes to their weekend total.

Dillon Birch led a 1-2-3 finish for the EIU men in the javelin throw.  Birch won the event with a mark of 144'9".  Clayton Turner was second with a mark of 139'6" followed by Ashton Wilson in third with a throw of 133'6".

MaKenna Wilson continued her solid weekend with a first place finish in the women's javelin.  The sophomore won the event with a mark of 118'7".  Teammate Kaitlyn Ebert placed second with a throw of 106'2".

Grace Rowan separated midway through the women's 1,500 meter run and won the event with a time of 4:54.69.  Jaime Marcos placed third for the EIU men in their 1,500 meter event.

Pedra Hicks had her second first place finish of the weekend as she won the women's 100 meter hurdles after capturing the 400 meter hurdles on Friday evening with a school record time.  On Saturday she won the 100 meter hurdle event with a time of 13.98.  Hicks was followed by Kristen Dowell in second place with a time of 15.13.

Freshman Steven Rowe capped the men's first place finishers as he won the high jump leading a one, two, EIU finish.  Rowe won clearing a height of 6'4.75".  Ashton Wilson was second with a jump of 6'2.75" collecting his second top three field event finish of the day.

Rylei Jackson rounded out the EIU women's competitors with top three finishes as she was third in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.63.

After winning the men's long jump on Friday, senior Joe Smith returned on Saturday to place second in the triple jump.  Smith had a mark of 48'.

In relay events the women's 4x100 team finished second with a time of 51.39.  The relay team included Vivica Coleman, Jackson, Hicks and Dowell.

The men's 4x100 relay team ran unopposed with a time of 42.83.  The relay team included Brandan Lane, Ricky Owens, Anthony Bello and Tadiwa Mhonde.