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Results  |  Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men's and women's outdoor track continues to improve as the season progresses as they both placed first on Friday in the EIU Big Blue Classic at O'Brien Field. 
 
The EIU men were first out of 12 teams scoring 248 points with Miami (Ohio) second and Milwaukee third.   On the women's side EIU placed first out of eleven teams with 155 points with Miami (Ohio) second and Northern Illinois third.
 
The Panthers posted eleven individual first place finishes while placing first in three of four relay events.  In addition three Panthers posted EIU career top ten performances during the meet.
 
Adam Swanson continued his stellar season in middle distance races as he led start to finish winning both the 1,500 meter and 800 meter events.  His winning time in the 1,500 meter was 3:50.72 while his winning time in the 800 meter was 1:50.97.  Teammate Nick Oakley was third in the 1,500 meter race with a time of 3:57.14.  Kate Bushue posted a pair of top three finishes in both distance events for the Panther women.  She was second in the 1,500 meter run with a time of 4:38.62 and second in the 800 meter with a time of 2:15.97.
 
Shandall Thomas won the men's 100 meter dash with a time of 10.58 edging teammate Brailyn Johnson who was second with a time of 10.59.  Danielle Frank won the women's 100 meter dash with a time of 12.04.
 
Emily Montgomery won the women's hammer for the second straight week with her throw of 175' ranking third all-time at EIU.  Nick Phillips was second in the men's hammer at 187'5" but first among collegiate competitors. 
 
Makenna Wilson shifted up events today and placed first in the women's discus.  Her throw of 150'4" landed at seventh on the EIU career list.  Marie Koch placed second in the discus with a throw of 142'9".
 
Mason Jones was first in the men's steeplechase with a time of 9:49.98 with Jeremy Bekkouche third in the event with a time of 9:55.69. 
 
Jekeel Suber and Riley Baker picked up first place finishes in the men's hurdle events.  Suber won the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 14.28 and placed third in the 400 meter hurdles at 55.28.  Baker won the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 52.56.  Akiya Kollore was second in the women's 100 meter hurdles with her time of 14.19 tied for the eighth best in school history.  Shanisa Stinson was third in the event with a time of 14.42. 
 
Jaime Marcos led a Panthers 1-2-3 finish in the men's 5,000 meter run as he crossed with a time of 14:27.91.  Franky Romano was second at 14:29.89 with Richie Jacobo in third at 14:37.98.   Avani Flanagan and Mackenzie Aldridge were second and third in the women's 5K race.  Flanagan posted a time of 17:39.93 with Aldridge in at 17:44.80.
 
Will Bullock closed out the evening with the Panthers final first place finish with a win in the 10,000 meter run.  Bullock won with a time of 31:50.06.  Teammate David Thompson was second with a 10K time of 32:26.20. 
 
In relay events EIU won both the men's and women's 4x400 relays.  The men crossed in 3:17.72 with the women posting a time of 3:51.74.  The EIU men placed first and second in the 4x100 relay with a time of 41:53 and 41.96.  The EIU women's 4x100 relay was third at 49.12.
 
Clayre Shaver and Morgan Atchison rounded out the EIU women's top three finishers in field events.  Shaver was second in the shot put with a throw of 41'10.50".  Atchison was second in the javelin with a throw of 119'7".
 
Gregory Downs, Joe Smith and Ramsey Hunt all picked up top three finishes in the sand jumps.  Downs was second in the long jump at 22'0.75".  Smith was second in the triple jump at 49'1".  Hunt was third in the triple jump at 45'6.50".  Bradley Olysav was third in the men's shot put to close out EIU men's top three finishers in field events.
 
Taylor Wright and Zakiya Johnson both had top three finishes for the EIU women on the track in sprint events.  Wright was third in the 400 meter with a time of 58.98.  Johnson was second in the 200 meter with a time of 24.67.  Ricky Johnson was third in the men's 400 meter run with a time of 49.01.