Eastern will host a state track meet for the second consecutive weekend as the best of IHSA Boys Track and Field will compete for a state title in a variety of events.

Approximately 2,400 boys from around 390 schools are expected to participate in 18 different events at both the Class A and Class AA level.

According to IHSA assistant executive director, Ron McGraw, the meet will begin on Friday at 9 a.m. and run until approximately 5 p.m.

The parade of competitors will kick off Saturday at 10 a.m. with field events starting at 11 a.m. The running events will begin at 12:15 p.m., and the meet is expected to end around 3:45 p.m. Saturday.

Eastern has hosted the event for over 30 years. McGraw sees no reason to change the location and attributes that to Eastern having an outstanding facility and staff as well as a very friendly atmosphere.

“They are outstanding hosts,” McGraw said.

Assistant athletic director for sports information and marketing, David Kidwell, says that besides the number of competitors coming this weekend, there are 200 officials working along with 5,000 fans expected to attend Friday’s events. There are expectations of up to 10,000 fans expected to attend the meet on Saturday.

Kidwell thinks hosting the meet is great as it brings high school students to the campus and brings economic benefits to the hotels and restaurants in Charleston.

“It’s a great selling point for future students,” Kidwell said.

The competitors will be housed in different dorms across campus according to Director of Housing and Dining Mark Hudson. The dorms that will be used include Lincoln, Stevenson, Douglas, Ford, McKinney, Weller, Taylor, Thomas and Lawson.

The team champions last year were Eureka at the Class A level and East St. Louis (Sr.) at the Class AA level.