ISU Redbird Tune-up
Horton Field House | Normal, Ill.
Friday, Feb. 21 | 3:00 pm CT
Live Stats | Schedule 

ON-TAP: The Eastern Illinois Indoor Track and Field team travels north to Normal, Ill as they are set to compete in the ISU Redbird Tune-up on Friday, Feb. 21 at Horton Field House. This marks the second trip the Panthers have made to Illinois State as they opened the 2024-25 indoor season at the John Coughlan Invite on Dec. 6.

EIU EARLY BIRD RECAP: The Eastern Illinois track and field team competed across two different events over the course of the last weekend. The Panther athletes split between the GVSU Big Meet in Allendale, Mich. on Friday, Feb. 14 and the Indiana State Blue/White Alumni Classic on Saturday, Feb. 15. EIU recorded ten podium finishes at Grand Valley on Friday while three more Panthers found the podium at Indiana State on Saturday afternoon.

GVSU Big Meet Highlights

EIU manufactured success on the track, as Tyler Dillon finished third in the 800m with a time of 1:54.61, while Ayden Cothern ran the 200m in 22.13. Additionally, Cale Smith took first in the mile, crossing the finish line in 4:11.21. Sam Bradbury dominated the open field divisions, setting a personal record in both the weight throw (18.38m) and shot put (16.46m) to earn first place in each.

The EIU jumpers also had a strong showing, as Ramsey Hunt won the long jump with a season-best 7.70m, moving into the 25th spot nationally. Angela Dobbins earned silver in the high jump with a personal best 1.68m, while Abraham Johnson grabbed two podium finishes, taking first in the triple jump with a PR of 15.20m and third in the high jump at 1.98m.

Indiana State Blue/White Alumni Classic

At Saturday's meet, Taji Malik-Akinremi ran a season-best 7.05 in the 60m, securing third place. David Tuala set a personal record in the 200m, finishing in 23.65 for bronze and Julia Monson earned silver in the 3000m with a personal best time of 10:33.50.

OVC TOP THREE: EIU continues to dominate the OVC leaderboards after the conclusion of the GVSU Big Meet and the Indiana State Blue/White Alumni Classic. The Panthers currently have seven total athletes along with one relay team who's marks sit in one of the top three places in the OVC season record list. Matthew Gladdieux still holds the second place spot for both shot put and weight throw after recording tosses of 16.50m (SP) and 17.93m (WT) at the 2024 John Craft Invite. In addition, Sam Bradbury joins Gladdieux on the leaderboard, claiming the third place spot in each the shot put and weight throw after recording a distance of 16.46m (SP) and 18.38m (WT) at the GVSU Big Meet on Friday, Feb. 14.

In addition, Ramsey Hunt and Abraham Johnson control the sand pit, as they each sit top three in their respective jumping events. Hunt continues to dominate, claiming first place in the long jump after jumping a season-best 7.70m at the GVSU Big Meet. Meanwhile, Johnson proceeds to build his strong freshman season in Charleston, earning the second spot on the podium in triple jump after posting a PR distance of 15.20m, also at the GVSU Big Meet.

Elijah Skutt is the third Panther jumper to claim an OVC podium, as he currently stands in third in the high jump after recording a height of 2.05m at the 2024 John Craft Invite. Angela Dobbins marks the final Panther jumper on the OVC leaderboard as she sits tied for third place in the high jump after reaching 1.68m at the GVSU Big Meet.

Furthermore, the men's 4x400m relay team consisting of Billy Baily Jr., Josh Berry, Ayden Cother, and Daniel Lacy set a new season-best time while in Chicago, earning the second place spot in the OVC after crossing the finish line in 3:17.41.  In addition, Zac Stout has earned 4296 points to notch the third place spot in the Heptathlon.

NEXT UP: The Panthers are back in action early next week as they are slotted to travel to Indianapolis, Ind. for the OVC Indoor Championships on Feb. 25-26 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion.