EIU Opens Outdoor Track Season This Weekend

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois track and field will open their outdoor season this weekend at the Southern Illinois Bill Cornell Spring Classic.  The competition will begin on Friday evening with the discus, long jump and 10K events.  All other events will begin on Saturday with the hammer throw at 9 a.m. and the first running event at 12:30 p.m.

The season opening meet will have teams from Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Indiana State, Western Illinois, UW Milwaukee and UMKC.

The Panthers are the defending Ohio Valley Conference men’s and women’s outdoor track champions.  EIU returns seven athletes that advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Regional last season.  Transfer Peter Geraghty enters the outdoor season after earning second team All-American honors in the pole vault during the indoor season placing 11th at the NCAA Indoor National Championships.

The Panthers had two pole vaulters reach the NCAA Outdoor National Championships last season as seniors Jade Riebold and Mick Viken return.  Riebold was third in the NCAA last season while Viken placed 12th at the National Championships.

Maura Cummins (Newton H.S.) and Jalisa Paramore both advanced to the NCAA Regional for the EIU women last year.  Cummins placed 26th in the high jump while Paramore was 29th in the 100m hurdles.

On the men’s side Calvin Edwards, David Johansson and Pablo Ramirez all advanced to the NCAA Regional.  Edwards was 48th in the 200m.  Johansson was 19th in the javelin.  Ramirez competed in the 10K but did not post an official time.

In addition to action at SIU this weekend, the Panthers are sending pole vaulters Peter Geraghty and Mick Viken to compete in the Texas Relays.

EIU hosts the Neil Moore Multis and Big Blue Classic next weekend April 3-5 at O’Brien Field.