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Eastern Illinois Athletics wrapped up its 20th year as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference in May.  As a way to celebrate the many accomplishments, both team and individual during that time period, EIU conducted an online poll during the month of May for fans to help select the Top 20 athletes of the Panthers OVC Era.  During the month of June we will unveil the top 20 athletes as selected by the more than 2,500 fan votes submitted.  The original list of 40 athletes was comprised by a committee looking at a variety of criteria including Player of the Year, All-American selection and multiple time first-team All-OVC honors.  
 
#8 Mick Viken (2011-14)
 
Viken soared to new heights for the EIU men's track & field team earning All-American honors four times in the pole vault.  Viken opened his career as the OVC 2011 Freshman of the Year for both indoor and outdoor track.  He would go on to earn first team All-OVC honors seven times during his career in the pole vault winning the indoor event title four straight years and the outdoor title three times.   He set the OVC record for the pole vault for both indoor (17'4" in 2014) and outdoor (17'2.25" in 2013) track.   In 2012 Viken was named the OVC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year.  As a junior in 2013 he would earn first team All-American honors placing eighth at the NCAA Indoor National Championships.   He was a second team All-American three straight years in the outdoor pole vault placing 12th at the National Championships in 2012 and 2013 with a ninth place finish as a senior in 2014.  Viken holds the EIU indoor pole vault record of 17'10.50" set during the 2013 season.  He is second all-time at EIU in the outdoor pole vault as one of only two Panthers to ever clear 18' with his personal best standing at 18'0.50".  He was a member of six OVC Championship teams (three indoor, three outdoor).  In addition to success in competition, Viken was a two-time Academic All-American.
 
Viken currently works as a teacher and coach at Highland Park High School in the Chicago area.

EIU OVC Era Top 20 Countdown
#20 - Meleah Cutler (Volleyball / 1996-99)
#19 - Sean Lyons (Baseball / 1996-99)
#18 – Rick Kaye (Men's Basketball / 1995-98)
#17 – Jade Riebold (W Track / 2012-14)
#16 – Rachel Galligan (W Basketball / 2006-09)
#15 – Cara LeMaster (W Soccer / 1999-02)
#14 – Erica Gerth (Volleyball / 2001-04)
#13 – Kandace Arnold (W Track / 2007-10)
#12 – Reynae Hutchinson (Volleyball & Softball / 2010-14)
#11 – Erik Lora (Football / 2009-13)
#10 – Amber May (Softball / 2009-11)
#9 – Beth Liesen (W Soccer / 2000-03)

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