Panther Prepare For Last Meet Before OVC Championships

The Eastern Illinois men's and women's indoor track & field teams will return to the Lantz Fieldhouse this weekend as the Panthers host their annual Friday Night Special this weekend. The Friday Night Special will mark the regular season finale for the Panthers during the 2019-20 indoor season.

TRACK FINISHES STRONG AT GVSU BIG MEET
The Eastern Illinois men's and women's track & field teams traveled to the Grand Valley State Big Meet on Friday for their final road meet of the 2019-20 indoor season. 

The men were led by Brady Webb and Joe Smith in the long jump at the Grand Valley State Big Meet. Webb placed first in the event with a jump of 22-7 and Smith was right behind him with a leap of 22-3 3/4 to finish in second.

Other top 20 finishers were, Shandall Thomas in the 60-meter dash, he placed seventh with a time of 6.90. In the 400 Riley Baker placed 11th with a time of 48.61, teammate Tadiwa Mhonde finished 12^th with a time of 48.72. Preston Skinner placed ninth in the 600 with a time of 1:23.95.

In the mile, Nick Oakley finished in eighth place with a time of 4:10.96. At the Iowa State Classic Dustin Hatfield placed 19^th with a time of 14:18.91 in the 5000 which moves him up to number seven on the EIU All-time list.

In the 4x400 the Panthers placed fourth with a time of 3:15.16. Bradley Olysav placed third in the shot put with a throw of 48-2 1/4.

The women were led by MaKenna Wilson with a first-place finish in the shot put with a throw of 48-0. With that throw, Wilson moves up to number five on the EIU All-time list.

Grace Rowan placed 14^th in the 3000 with a time of 9:51.14 which moves her up to number two spot on the EIU All-time list. Newcomer Lindsey Carlson placed 15^th in the 3000 with a time of 9:52.24, which puts her right behind Rowan on the EIU All-time list in third.  

Other top 20 finishers were Danielle Frank in the 60-meters in 14^th place with a time of 7.76. In the 200 Frank placed 24^th with a time of 24.90 which puts her on the EIU All-time list at number five.

In the 60-meter hurdles, Shanisa Stinson placed 11^th with a time of 8.89 and Akiya Kollore placed 19^th with a time of 9.00. In the 4x400 the Panthers placed ninth with a time of 3:56.16.

ABOUT THE FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL
The EIU Friday Night Special will be held this Friday in the Lantz Fieldhouse. The Friday Night Special is set to begin at 2 p.m. with the field events. The running events are scheduled to begin at 3:40 p.m.

Scheduled to compete on Friday in the EIU Friday Night Special are, Brescia, Indiana State, Illinois State, SIU Carbondale, Bellarmine, Lincoln College, Northern Illinois, Maryville, IUPUI, Southern Indiana, Kentucky Wesleyan, and Vincennes.

A LOOK AHEAD
Following the EIU Friday Night Special, the Eastern Illinois men's and women's indoor track & field teams will begin preparing for the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship in Birmingham, Ala.