The Eastern men’s and women’s indoor track teams used the EIU Friday Night Special to pile up personal bests and get prepared for the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships.

Four women’s track athletes set school records as six universities and a number of community colleges competed at Lantz Fieldhouse.

For the women’s team, it was all about setting school records.

Junior hurdler Chandra Golden won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.65 seconds. Golden’s time was the fourth fastest in Eastern history and the fastest time in the OVC this season. Southeast Missouri’s Whitney Thomas had the second-best time this season (8.80 seconds).

Golden said she was nervous coming into the meet because she never beat freshman Brittany Castleberry of Rend Lake. Castleberry finished sixth (8.89 seconds).

“I put together a complete race,” Golden said. “I started to the first hurdle and in between each hurdle I just thought like a sprinter like (Eastern head coach Tom Akers) told me.”

Golden said she was hoping to run 8.7 seconds in the event and her performance in this event gives her a lot of confidence going into the conference championships.

“In the beginning of the season I had a down period running,” Golden said. “I was running 8.9 seconds and nine seconds. Knowing I have an 8.6 in my belt before conference makes me feel pretty good.”

Sophomore thrower Kandace Arnold had another solid meet. She placed second in the weight throw (56 feet, 8.50 inches) and third in the shot put (44′ 3.25″).

Her mark in the weight throw was the second best in school history and was the farthest mark in the OVC so far this season.

Sophomore middle distance runner Erin O’Grady ran a personal best in the 800-meter run (2 minutes 17.44 seconds). The time was sixth best in school history and helped her finish second in the event.

Junior sprinter Violet Nwordu finished third in the 60-meter dash (7.69), which is the third-fastest time in school history. Junior sprinter Tarra Grant finished second in the 600-meter run (1:39.31), and Nicole Walcott was third in the high jump (5′ 3”).

Freshman distance runner Kevin Adamowski won the 1,000-meter run (2:31.24). He led early in the race and never relinquished the lead.

“I wanted to establish myself, and I knew someone would come up and try to challenge me,” Adamowski said. “It ended up being a perfect race.”

Adamowski said he was hoping to run under 2:35 and was happy with how he performed.

“I have had a tough couple of weeks, and it kind of just clicked for me out there,” Adamowski said. “I just told myself this week it was time to go and the meet was at home. This is a good momentum starter and I just hope it can carry over to next week.”

Other members of the men’s team with solid performances included sophomore middle distance runner Wes Sheldon who finished second in the 600-meter run (1:21.07), sophomore middle distance runner Jason Springer finished fourth in the same event (1:21.78), freshman middle distance runner Nic Kuczwara finished third in the 800-meter run (1:56.00), and senior hurdler Mike Embry finished fourth in the 60-meter hurdles (8.2).

Both the men’s and women’s teams will look to repeat as team champions the OVC Indoor Championships on Friday and Saturday in Nashville, Tenn., at Tennessee State.

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

Sophomore middle distance runners, Wes Sheldon and Jason Springer, follow Rend Lake’s Boaz Lalang in the men’s 600 meter dash during the Panther’s Friday Night Special Indoor Track Meet Friday night at Lantz Fieldhouse. (John Bailey / The Daily Eastern Ne

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