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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.  
 
#4 Kyle O'Brien (2001-03)
 
O'Brien dominated distance racing in the Ohio Valley Conference as a member of the Panthers cross country and track programs.  An All-American distance runner in junior college, O'Brien led the Panthers to six OVC championships in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track.  He was named the OVC Overall Male Athlete of the Year in 2002-03 after completing the distance triple crown with individual championships in the OVC Cross Country Meet, 3K & 5K races at the OVC Indoor Championships and 5K & 10K races at the OVC Outdoor Championships.  He won a total of nine individual OVC distance event championships over two and half seasons in a Panthers uniform and was a first-team All-OVC selection 12 times.  As a senior he was named the OVC Athlete of the Year for cross country, indoor track and outdoor track becoming the first OVC athlete to accomplish that feat.  O'Brien ranks in the top ten at EIU all-time in the 6K for cross country  (5th at 30:32), indoor track 5k (6th at 14:18.33), outdoor track 5k (6th at 14:21.64) and outdoor track 10K (3rd at 29:36.36).
 
O'Brien was inducted into the EIU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.  He was a competitive marathoner qualifying for the US Olympic Trials in 2008.   He has placed in the top 20 in the Detroit Marathon (3rd), Chicago Marathon (16th) and Boston Marathon (18th).  He currently works in law enforcement and serves as the head cross country/track coach at Danville Area CC.

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)
#6 – Zye Boey (M Track & Field / 2009-12)
#5 – Kyle Hill (M Basketball / 1998-01)

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