Good Day for EIU Women at Meet Friday

The Eastern Illinois men’s and women’s indoor track & field teams completed first day action at the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships Friday (Feb. 26), with sixth and first place team marks respectively.

Following six recorded events, the Panther women total 44 points and hold a slim three point lead over second place Eastern Kentucky (41).

Through five events, the EIU men total 23 team points and rank behind first place SIU Edwardsville (41), Eastern Kentucky (37), Southeast Missouri (33), Belmont and Tennessee State (28).

Three Panthers earned individual first place medals and First-Team All OVC honors in their respective events.

Haleigh Knapp posted the top mark in the high jump as she cleared a height of 5’09.75” which tied a championship record. Janie Howse followed suit with her top throw in the weight throw at 18.97 m. Paxson Menard cruised to a first place finish in the 5000-meter run (14:52.20).

The women’s distance medley relay team of Kristen Paris, Jocelyn Payne, Amy Yeoman, and Dhiaa Dean took second place honors with their time of 11:58.48. The mens quartet of Matt Goldby, Michael Miller, Mark Pedziwiatr, and Riley McInerney finished with the third best time overall in the event at 10:20.13.

The Panthers had a combined 17 runners advance to tomorrow’s finals, including Calvin Edwards (200 and 400- meter dash), Jamal Robinson (55 and 200-meter dash), Christian Ilunga-Matthiesen (55 and 200-meter dash), and Anita Saffa (55 and 200-meter dash) advancing in two events each.

Final day action at the OVC Indoor Track & Field Championships resumes tomorrow at 9 a.m. (CST).