Eastern Illinois director of track & field / cross country James Gildon has announced the second portion of the Panthers incoming class of athletes for the men's programs that will join the Panthers for the 2026-27 season.
 
The group of nine athletes combines multiple state championship qualifiers, two state champions and three four-year college transfers.
 
EIU men's track and field won the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Championship, the 18th outdoor title in program history.
 
Below are quick bios on each of the incoming men's athletes.
 
Miteku Branch  – Competed in both cross country and track at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Ill… placed 50th at the IHSA Class 3A Cross Country State Championships as a senior with a finals 3-mile time of 14.51… finished fourth at the Hinsdale Central Sectional… also reached the 3A Sectional championship as a sophomore… in track reached the IHSA Class 3A State Championships in the 3200 meter run as a senior… placed sixth in the Roselle Lake Park Sectional with a time of 9:24.73…
 
Sebastian Carlos  – Competed in track and field at Mendota High School in Mendota, Ill… reached the IHSA Class 2A State Championships in the 400 meter run as a senior placing 12th in the state… posted a championship time of 50.10… season best 400 meter time was 49.51 winning the Three Rivers Conference meet… placed first in the 400 meter run at the Rochelle Sectional… also reached the State Championships in the 400 meters as a sophomore…
 
Eli Crowe  – Competed in both cross country and track at Tolono Unity High School in Tolono, Ill… in cross country finished 18th at the IHSA Class 1A State Championships as a senior with a 3-mile finals time of 15:07.5… placed fifth at the Toledo Cumberland Sectional… competed in the state championships as a sophomore and junior… in track competed at the IHSA Class 2A State Championships as a senior as a member of the 4x800 relay team running the third leg… qualified for the 3200 event at the state championships as a sophomore and junior…
 
Kaden Gardner – Competed in track and field at Northern Kentucky University as a multi's athlete… redshirted the 2026 season after competing in 2025… was the silver medalist at the 2025 Horizon League Outdoor Championships in both the javelin (179'5") and decathlon (6,106 pts)… placed third in the heptathlon at the 2025 Horizon League Indoor Championship scoring 4,528 points)… began collegiate career at Thomas More College… competed primarily in the high jump during the 2024 season… did also run the 200 meter even at the Great Midwest Conference Indoor Championships… attended Ryle High School in Union, Kentucky… finished as a Top 10 high jumper in the state and a USA Top 50 high jumper twice… set school records in the high jump (6'8") and 300 hurdles (39.16)…
 
Dawveed Holland – Competed in track and field at Illinois Lutheran High School in Crete, Ill… as a senior qualified for four events at the IHSA Class 1A State Championships winning the state title in the triple jump… won the state triple jump with a mark of 48'4… placed sixth in the state in the long jump with a finals mark of 22'8"… also competed at state finals in the 100 dash and 300 hurdles… reached the state championships in the triple jump as a junior finishing fifth with a finals mark of 44'4.75"… was 12th in the state championships in the triple jump as a sophomore…
 
Tate Kunzeman  –  Was a three year member of the track program at Quincy College… competed in 2024 and 2026 outdoor seasons while missing the entire 2025 season… only competed in 2024 season for indoor track… in 2026 competed in the javelin and hammer, throwing both at the GLVC Outdoor Championships… ran sprints during indoor season at Quincy competing in the 60 meter, 200 meter and 400 meter events… began collegiate career at Blackburn College competing during the 2023 indoor and outdoor seasons… ran sprints at Blackburn competing in the SLIAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships… competed in track at Griggsville-Perry High School… played basketball and baseball for majority of high school career adding track and field as a senior… set school record in the 400 meter dash… was a two-time All-State selection in basketball ranking third in school's all-time scoring record book…
 
Aprileous Robinson  – Was a two year member of the track program at Lane College… ran sprints at the SIAC Outdoor Championships during both freshman and sophomore year with 4x100 relay team scoring points with a seventh place finish… competed in track and field at Millington Central High School in Millington, Tenn… ranks in the school top ten for the 100 meter and 200 meter events… competed in the TSSAA West A-AA Championships as a senior in the long jump and on the 4x200 relay teams…
 
Levi Stiver  – Competed in track and field at Richland High School in Richland, Wash… was the 3A/4A District 6 champion in the 100 meter dash as a senior with a time of 11.07 advancing to the WIAA 2A/3A/4A State Championship Meet in the event… reached the State Championship meet as a junior in the 100 meter, 200 meter and 4x100 relay events… added state qualifier appearances as a sophomore in the 100 meter and 4x100 relay…
 
Amauree Williams  – Competed in track and field at Southland College Prep Charter HS in Richton Park, Ill… was the IHSA Class 2A State Champion in both the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles as a senior while also qualifying for the state meet in the 4x400 relay… won the 110 hurdles state title with a finals time of 14.26… won the 300 hurdles state title with a finals time of 37.55… during the indoor season won the 60m hurdles at the Illinois Top Times meet with a mark of 8.08… was the 300 hurdle state champion as a junior with a winning time of 37.77 while placing fourth in the state in the 110 hurdles… finished on the podium in both hurdles events at the state championships as a sophomore (6th – 110 hurdles / 3rd – 300 hurdles) after placing fifth in the 300 hurdles as a freshman…