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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Eastern Illinois men's indoor track and field team captured their 19th Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track Championship Thursday afternoon in Birmingham, Ala. EIU finished with a total of 177.50 points throughout the two day meet. It marks their first championship since the 2019-2020 season.

Head coach Keith Roberts was named the OVC Men's Coach of the Year after winning his first conference championship. Jaime Marcos was also named the OVC Male Track Athlete of the Year and was named the co-OVC Athlete of the Championships.

The women's track and field team would end their season with a fifth place overall finish after scoring 71 points. It is there highest finish at the OVC Championships since the 2019-20 season.

On day two of the championships, EIU posted five first place finishes throughout the meet. Riley Baker powered EIU to their 19th championship after winning the men's 400 meter dash with a time of 48.16. He also posted a third place finish in the 60 meter hurdles with a finals time of 8.21. This set his new personal best in the 60m hurdles.

Not only did Baker earn first team OVC honors in his individual race, but he was the anchor of the first place team in the 4x400 meter relay to end the meet. The team of Josiah Neal, Elijah Robertson, Adam Swanson and Baker took home the gold to secure the OVC title with a time of 3:17.38.

Swanson also earned a gold medal in the men's 800 meter run with a first place time of 1:51.84. He would also claim a third place finish in the one mile run with a time of 4:07.98 to end up on the podium for EIU.

Eastern Illinois claimed a clean sweep in the men's 400 meter dash. After Baker took home the gold, Neal was able to claim a second place finish with a time of 48.47 while Ricky Johnson earned a third place finish with a time of 48.71.

R. Johnson would also sit on the podium with a second place finish in the men's 200 meter dash with a time of 21.62. Elijah Skutt would also earn a second place finish in the men's high jump with his new personal best jump of 2.03 meters.

Jaime Marcos also finished his impressive championship week with a second place finish in the men's 3000 meter run with a time of 8:21.86.

For the women's team, Akiya Kollore added two first place finishes to end her indoor season. Kollore would set the new Eastern Illinois school record in the women's 200 meter dash with a time of 24.20. She would also take gold in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.50.

First-Team All-OVC
Akiya Kollore: Women's 60 meter hurdles, 200 meter dash
Riley Baker: Men's 400 meter, 4x400 Relay
Jaime Marcos: Men's 5000 meter
Ramsey Hunt: Men's long jump
Adam Swanson: Men's 800 meter, 4x400 Relay
Josiah Neal: 4x400 Relay
Elijah Robertson: 4x400 Relay

Second-Team All-OVC
Elijah Skutt: Men's high jump
Josiah Neal: Men's 400 meter
Ricky Johnson: Men's 200 meter
Jaime Marcos: Men's 3000 meter

Men's Final Scores
1 Eastern Illinois - 177.50
2 Little Rock - 160
3 Southeast Missouri - 128
4 Tennessee St. - 65.50
5 UT Martin - 60
6 Southern Indiana - 33
7 Lindenwood - 24
8 SIUE - 12

Women's Final Scores
1 Southeast Missouri - 183.50
2 Little Rock - 103.50
3 Tennessee St. - 79
4 Tennessee Tech - 73
5 Eastern Illinois - 71
6 Southern Indiana - 65
7 SIUE - 37
8 Tennessee-Martin - 25
9 Lindenwood - 23
10 Morehead State - 2