This week, the Ohio Valley Conference Track and Field Athletes of the Week winners were well represented by Eastern.

Sophomore middle distance runner Jason Springer was named male track athlete of the week for his time of 1 minute, 53.74 seconds in the 800-meter run. This time was not only his personal best but also the fastest for any runner in the OVC this season. His time is a full two seconds better than teammate and Eastern senior Chris Wesson (1:55.99) and nearly three seconds better than Eastern Kentucky’s Chris Renifo (1:56.69).

Senior jumper Obe Eruteya was named Field Athlete of the Week for the second time in four weeks.

Eruteya placed first in the triple jump with a mark of 48 feet, 9 inches. Eruteya currently leads in the OVC in both the triple jump and high jump events and is eighth in the long jump.

Earlier last week, I had a chance to talk to Springer about his goals for the season.

Springer said coming into the season all he wanted to do was run a 1:55 in the 800-meter run. He was able to accomplish that mark in the year’s first meet.

Springer said he adjusted his goal to 1:53. Again, something he accomplished this weekend.

Eruteya has a number of goals when I talked to him last week.

He said he wanted to win a team indoor title in addition to winning OVC Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

He said that Athlete of the Week honors are nice, but will not satisfy his overall goal.

However as Eruteya continues to win Field Athlete of the Year honors, the odds of him winning the Athlete of the Year award continue to improve.

The common thread between these athletes is they are not satisfied by any of their accomplishments.

As they continue to succeed and continue to reach desired times and heights, they do not become content. They place the bar a little bit higher and continue to make themselves that much better.

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