Panthers Out To Regain Track Titles

CHARLESTON, Ill. – In 2007 Eastern Illinois swept the Ohio Valley Conference men’s and women’s outdoor track championships at home before being dethroned last year in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The Panthers look to return to the top of the podium this weekend as the 2009 OVC Championships take place in Richmond, Ky.

Eastern Illinois was the men’s preseason favorite to win their 10th outdoor title. The Panthers will be challenged by last year’s OVC champion Southeast Missouri.

Already this season EIU has qualified three athletes for the NCAA regional with sprinters Zye Boey and DeMarcus Brooks both nationally ranked in the 100m dash. On Thursday Boey was named the OVC Male Track Athlete of the Year while Brooks was tabbed the OVC Freshman of the Year. Both sprinters will look to improve upon their NCAA times in the 100m and 200m dash.

Jumper Ian Winston has also notched his named among those EIU athletes guaranteed a spot in the NCAA regional based on his performance in the high jump. EIU has two defending men’s event champions returning to the OVC’s this season with Dorrian White in the pole vault and Tyler Arnholt in the discus.

The EIU women are also considered favorites heading into the championships as they work on winning their second team title. EIU is expected to be challenged by Southeast Missouri, defending champion Tennessee State and a balanced Murray State squad.

EIU has already qualified two athletes for the NCAA regional with hurdler Chandra Golden and thrower Kandace Arnold. Golden matched her school record in the 100m hurdles at 13.70 to qualify while Arnold has passed the NCAA standard in the shot put on four occasions this season.

Golden and Arnold are two of the three EIU female athletes heading to Richmond as defending champions. Golden won the 100m hurdles last season while Arnold was a dual event winner in the discus and shot put. Senior Jenna Uhe also looks to defend her title in the triple jump. Uhe was the OVC long jump champion in 2007.