EIU Hosts More Than 600 Athletes This Weekend In Track

HARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois track and field will host more than 600 athletes this weekend as the Panthers host the Neil Moore Multis and Big Blue Classic Thursday through Saturday at O’Brien Field.  Events will begin each day at 10 a.m. with the Neil Moore Multis on Thursday and Friday.  The opening event for the Big Blue Classic will be 6 p.m. on Friday night.

In addition to the host Panthers teams from the following schools are scheduled to compete in this scored meet: Bradley, Dayton, Grand Valley State, Illinois State, Indiana State, Judson College, Lincoln College, Lincoln University (Mo.), Lipscomb, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Saint Francis (Ill.), Southern Illinois and Western Michigan.

EIU opened the outdoor portion of its season last week at the SIU Bill Cornell Classic.  The Panther men placed third while the women’s team was fourth.

Mick Viken was named the OVC Male Field Athlete of the Week after placing fourth in the pole vault invitational at the Texas Relays.  Viken cleared the 18’ mark and currently ranks third in the NCAA.  Teammate Peter Geraghty was seventh at the Texas Relays in the pole vault invitational and ranks 10th nationally.  Viken ranks first on the EIU career list while Geraghty is now second.

Joe Calio was named the OVC Male Track Athlete of the Week after winning the steeplechase at SIU last weekend.  Calio currently ranks 42nd in the NCAA while teammate William Roth is 95th nationally in the steeplechase.

The Panthers 4x100 men’s relay team ranks in the top 75 in the NCAA following a first place finish at SIU last weekend.  The Panthers relay team included Johnathan Boey, Calvin Edwards, Jamal Robinson and Kaleel Johnson.

Edwards won the men’s 200m dash at SIU and ranks 74th in the nation in that event.

Jalisa Paramore and Kailey James had first place finishes for the EIU women last weekend at SIU.  Paramore won the 100m hurdles while James placed first in the high jump.

The women’s 4x400 relay team also picked up a first place finish.  The relay team consisted of Amina Jackson, Ashley Fouch, Kirsten Bryant and Dhiaa Dean.

Top ten EIU career marks were turned in last week by Raven Kelly, Janie Howse, Lauralyn Rosenberger and Kelsie Abolt for the women.  Kelly and Howse set their marks in the hammer throw while Rosenberger and Abolt landed in the top ten in the pole vault.