Men’s and women’s indoor track teams are coming off successful seasons in which both captured the Ohio Valley Conference indoor track championships.

The hurdlers for both the men’s and women’s teams look to be strong again this season.

The men return hurdlers senior Mike Embry, sophomore Kris Gehrke and sophomore T.J. Evans, all of whom were qualifiers in the OVC championships last season.

The team also returns senior Matt Fisher, who was a qualifier in the 60-meter indoor last season.

Head indoor track coach Tom Akers said a number of freshman have also been impressive.

“We are returning Embry, Gehrke, Evans, and Fisher,” Akers said. “They are a solid four for us. Alex Migit is a freshman who has looked good for us. He was all-state last season in high school. Right now, he is running with our top guys. We have looked good running against each other; we will see what happens when we compete.”

The women return two of the top runners in the OVC.

Junior Chandra Golden is coming off an OVC title in the 60 hurdles when the Normal native ran an 8.76 to earn an individual title.

The Panther women also return sophomore Caitlin Finnegan, who was a qualifier in the 60 and 100-meter indoor hurdles and the 100 and 400 hurdles outside.

Akers said he has been impressed by freshman hurdler Charay Savage.

“We have Golden and Finnegan who are our solid two,” Akers said. “Freshman Caitlin Savage was fifth in state last year in the 100-meter hurdlers. She has been running well and has been solid.”

Men’s and women’s throwers differ in depth

The men’s and women’s throwers for the indoor track team could not be more different in depth.

Right now, the men’s team is depleted because of the injury to sophomore thrower Tyler Arnholt. The sophomore will most likely miss the entire indoor season but should be healthy for the outdoor season.

Freshman thrower Steven Nwokocha will be the loan thrower for the Panthers during the indoor season.

Throwing coach Mary Wallace said Nwokocha has been impressive despite the depleted roster.

“Right now, we are kind of depleted,” Wallace said. “Arnholt will be back in fall. Nwokocha has stepped up because we are understaffed. For freshman, there is a lot of adjustments. We have to break down delivery and build them up. Steve will have some great meets and a couple of rough ones, but he definitely has a lot of potential.”

Nwokocha said the transition has been relatively easy.

“So far, it has been pretty good,” Nwokocha said. “I thought it would be a lot harder, but it is a lot like high school. The weight training has prepared me a ton.”

Nwokocha said that the injury will be a good opportunity to show he can compete.

“I think it is a good opportunity,” Nwokocha said. “Usually they look at upperclassman first. This opportunity is a chance to show I can compete.”

The women’s throwers are much deeper, with last season’s OVC freshman of the year sophomore Kandace Arnold and junior Nicole Walcott returning.

Wallace said the returns of Walcot and Arnold and the improvements of sophomore Jamie Phegley and freshman Dominic Turner will make the team deep.

“Walcot and Arnold are proven OVC performers,” Wallace said. “Phegley has improved a lot, and Turner has the potential to make some noise.”