Tweet #EIUBleedBlue

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.  
 
#6 Zye Boey (2009-12)
 
Boey is the fastest athlete in Eastern Illinois history dominating the sprint events for the Panthers track and field teams.   Boey was a member of eight straight OVC Indoor and Outdoor Championship teams winning a total of 12 individual titles with six indoors (60m &  200m) and six outdoors (100m & 200m).  He began his career winning the OVC Freshman of the Year and Athlete of the Year Awards in 2009 for Indoor Track.  Later that year he was named the OVC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year.   During his career Boey won five combined OVC Athlete of the Year honors for track and was named the OVC Championships MVP on five occasions.  He set the school record in all four sprint events with times of 6.66 in the indoor 60m, 20.89 in the indoor 200m, 10.15 in the outdoor 100m and 20.37 in the outdoor 200m.  He was a five time All-American with three indoor honors and two outdoor.  His best NCAA National Championships finish was seventh in the indoor 200m as a junior.   During the summer of 2012 Boey competed in the Olympic Trials for the 2012 London Games in both the 100m and 200m events.   
 
Boey currently works in Microbiology for ADM in Decatur, Illinois.

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)
#8 – Mick Viken (M Track & Field / 2011-14)
#7 – J.R. Taylor (Football / 1999-2002)

-