Former Eastern Illinois track and field / cross country distance runner Casey Reinking passed away on July 14 following a courageous bout with cancer.

He retired from a career in the defense/satellite technology industry and was living in Sunnyvale, Calif.

One of EIU's all-time great distance runners, Reinking, was twice inducted into the Eastern Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame, first as an individual in 2005 and then in 2024 as a member of the EIU Men's Cross Country 1977 National Championship team.

He competed for EIU Hall of Fame coaches Neil Moore and Tom Woodall during his time at EIU graduating in 1980. 

He was a three-time NCAA College Division All-American finishing fifth at the 1977 NCAA Cross Country National Championships, fifth at the 1977 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships (5,000-meter run) and second at the 1979 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships (5,000-meter run).

Reinking would go on to compete at the NCAA Division I National Championships in cross country in 1977 and in the 5,000-meter run at the 1979 outdoor championships. 

He set three school records during his time at EIU including in the 5,000-meter run, a record that stood for 43 years.

Funeral arrangements are pending. His teammates will plan to honor him with a gathering in the fall.