Big Blue Classic starts with multi's

(Audrey Sawyer / The Daily Eastern News)

The Eastern track and field team starts the Big Blue Classic beginning with the Neil Moore multi-events, which commence today. The multi-events feature the heptathlon and the decathlon. Both the heptathlon and the decathlon will be contested today and Friday. The heptathlon events start at 11 a.m. today and 10 a.m. Friday. The decathlon events start at 11:30 a.m. today and 11 a.m. Friday.

On Friday, field events start at 2 p.m. and running events start at 5 p.m. On Saturday, field events start at 10:30 a.m. and running events start at 11 a.m.

Last season, red-shirt senior Sean Hopkins won the decathlon, competing as an unattached runner.

Noonan watches on the sidelines

The former Ohio Valley Conference freshman of the year isn't pole vaulting this outdoor season, and hasn't pole vaulted since the last outdoor season.

Joe Noonan, a junior, had a stress fracture.

Noonan wore a boot for the longest time and is now getting ready for the summer when he can start competing again.

Wiggan, Arnold pick up league honors

Sophomore Sean Wiggan was named the OVC Male Track Athlete of the Week after winning the 800-meter run at the EIU Invitational at O'Brien Field. He finished in 1:54.22, which is the best mark in the OVC. He also ran a leg of the winning 1,600-meter relay team that ranked 3:16.26, which is also first in the conference.

Eastern senior Kandace Arnold was named the OVC Female Field Athlete of the Week.

Arnold threw 171 feet and followed with a second-place finish in the discus and first-place throw in the shot put. Arnold's throw broke the previous record set by Keisha Dunlap in 2000. Arnold now owns records in the indoor shot put, the indoor 20-pound weight throw, the outdoor discus, the outdoor hammer throw and second in the outdoor shot put.

Around the league

Eastern Kentucky sophomore Lutisha Bowen was named the OVC Female Track Athlete of the Week. Bowen was a member of the 800-meter relay team that won at the N.C. State Raleigh Relays this past weekend in 1:38.65. The sophomore also notched a 14.20 in the finals of the 100-meter hurdles, placing 10th in the meet that included teams such as Ohio State and Wake Forest. The 14.20 is fastest in the OVC by .29 seconds and ranks her 28th in the East Region and 48th nationally.

Southeast Missouri junior Tyler Terry was named the OVC Male Field Athlete of the Week. Terry won his first long jump title of the outdoor season at last weekend's Alabama Relays. The jump of 24'-1.50" was nearly a foot better than his closest competitor as the junior beat out 31 other contenders. The height ranks atop the OVC best list and is a new personal best.

Kevin Murphy can be reached
at 581-7944
or kjmurphy@eiu.edu