Head Coach James Gildon has announced the 2026 outdoor season schedule today. Panthers will compete in eight meets before heading to Little Rock, Arkansas, for the OVC Outdoor Championship in May. 

EIU will open their outdoor season on March 26-27 in St. Louis, Missouri, for the Wash U Distance Central. On the same weekend, Eastern Illinois will host their annual Big Blue Classic.  

A week later, the Panthers will hit the road for the Pacesetter Invitational for their first out of three trips to Terre Haute, Indiana. Their second trip to Indiana will take place on April 16-18 for the Gibson Invitational. EIU will also travel to Champaign, Illinois twice this season, starting April 9-11 for the Illini Deca-Jam. Panthers will return on May 1st for the Gary Wieneke Memorial. The Panthers will round out their regular season on May 8th for the Sycamore Open.  

The OVC Outdoor Championship will take place on May 14-16 in Little, Rock, Arkansas. It marks the first time that Little Rock has hosted an OVC Championship since joining the conference prior to the 2022-23 season. 

After the conference championship, the qualifying Panthers will compete in the NCAA West First Round in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on May 27-30. The NCAA Outdoor Championship will take place in Eugene, Oregon, on June 10-13th.  

March 26-27 | Wash U. Distance Carnival | St. Louis, MO. 

March 27-28 | Big Blue Classic | Charleston, Ill.  

April 3 | Pacesetter Invitational | Terre Haute, Ind.  

April 9-11 | Illini Deca-Jam | Champaign, Ill. 

April 16-18 | Gibson Invitational | Terre Haute, Ind.  

April 24-25 | Jim Freeman/Clark Wood Open | Louisville, KY.  

May 1-2 | Gary Wieneke Memorial | Champaign, Ill. 

May 8 | Sycamore Open | Terre Haute, Ind. 

May 14-16 | OVC Outdoor Championship | Little Rock, Ark. 

May 27-30 | NCAA West First Round | Fayetteville, Ark. 

June 10-13 | NCAA Outdoor Championships | Eugene, OR.