Coming into the Eastern Mega Meet last Saturday, sophomore middle distance runner Jason Springer said he just wanted to get a solid time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

Instead the Minier native ran a personal best of 2:29.56 in the 1,000-meter run and finished with the fifth best time in Eastern history.

Springer was also named Performer of the Meet for the men’s team.

“My goals coming into the season were to make the conference roster,” Springer said. “I realize now I have the ability to shoot much higher.”

Springer’s other goals coming into the year were running a 1:55 in the 800-meter run, something he already accomplished in the year’s first meet. He said he has changed his goal to running a 1:53 in this event.

Springer’s teammate senior middle distance runner Chris Wesson said Springer has improved dramatically from last season.

“Last season he was a decent runner,” Wesson said. “This year he is really good. He ran the most miles over the summer and was determined to get better. He also found the best way to run.”

Springer and the rest of the Panthers will compete again at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Carle/Health Alliance Invitational at the University of Illinois in Champaign.

The event is scheduled to begin with the women’s 60-meter hurdles at 9 a.m., and the last scheduled event is to be the 4×400 meter finals at 4:38 p.m.

Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or at dscusack@eiu.edu.