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EIU Early Bird Meet
Lantz Indoor Fieldhouse
Friday, Dec. 9
2 p.m. (Field) / 4 p.m. (Track)

Schedule (PDF) | Operational Sheet  |  Live Results 

ON-TAP: Eastern Illinois starts their 2022-23 indoor track season with the EIU Early Bird Meet inside Lantz Indoor Fieldhouse. The Panthers look to reclaim the Ohio Valley Conference title this season after the men's team finished in second last season falling short by just 2.5 points. The women's team finished in sixth last season.

The following teams will compete in the EIU Early Bird Meet: Eastern Illinois, McKendree, Missouri-St Louis, Southern Indiana.

RETURNING MEN'S ATHLETES: Riley Baker returns for his senior season at Eastern Illinois after a successful 2021-22 indoor campaign. Baker was a two-time OVC First Team selection in indoor last season. First, he earned first team n the 400 meter at the OVC Championship after a season-best run of 48.31.

Baker also was part of the first team all-OVC 4x400 relay team that finished in first at the OVC Championships with a time of 3:17.14. He was the fourth leg that carried the Panthers home to victory.

Junior Ramsey Hunt also makes a return to the Panthers' indoor team after a strong sophomore season. Hunt finished in third place with a bronze medal in the long jump at the OVC Indoor Championships. His jump of 24'4".25 at that meet currently ranks eighth all-time at EIU.

RETURNING WOMEN'S ATHLETES: Akiya Kollore highlights a fast group of runners for the EIU women's indoor track team. Last season, Kollore was named to the first team all-OVC team after winning the 60 meter hurdles at the OVC Championships with a time of 8.55 which ranks seventh in school history.

She competed in six indoor meets last season while also setting the fourth best time in Eastern Illinois history in the 200 meter with a time of 24.59. Shanisa Stinson received a second place all-OVC honor after placing second in the 60 meter hurdle with a time of 8.59 (ranks 8th all time at EIU).

Clayre Shaver earned two first place finishes last season in the shot put to lead the EIU throwers. Her best throw came in the EIU Early Bird with a distance of 41'10.0". She also earned a season best in the weight throw at the Notre Dame Meyp Invite with a throw of 49'3.75".

NEXT UP: The Panthers will take off for the holiday season and will return home for the annual John Craft Invite on Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Lantz Indoor Fieldhouse. Start times will be released on a later date.

HEAD COACH: Keith Roberts was hired as Director of Track & Field at Eastern Illinois in August of 2021. Roberts enters his second year at Eastern after becoming the fourth director of track & field in the school's Division I history. Last season, Roberts produced two OVC Athletes of the Year in Dustin Hatfield and Lindsey Carlson in 2021. He coached both the men's and women's team to USTFCCCA Team All-Academic Honors. The EIU program produced six NCAA West Regional qualifiers in 2021-22 in Riley Baker (400 hurdles) and Akiya Kollore (100 hurdles / 200 dash).