The Eastern track and field teams have a rough road to the Regionals; the NCAA has changed its postseason format.

Twenty different Eastern athletes went to the NCAA Regionals last season. They might not get the opportunity this season.

Instead of track’s four regions, there are only two regions this year for the NCAA Championships. The top 48 athletes in each event qualify for the NCAA Regionals. If an Eastern athlete doesn’t post a top 48 qualifying mark during the season, they are out-of-luck. Previously, the athlete had to win the conference championship, and he or she received an automatic berth to NCAA Regionals.

So, senior Kandace Arnold could win the shot put, the discus and the hammer throw and still not receive a berth to the NCAA Regionals. She has to be around one of the 50 throwers in the country to qualify in her region. With only two regions, every meet holds so much more importance this season. If an athlete does get to a regional, then the NCAA is using the Regional as a first round scenario with the winners advancing to the NCAA Championships the next weekend at Oregon’s home field in Eugene, Ore.

For the Ohio Valley Conference, this solves a problem. Texas Pan American moved to the Great West, eliminating a men’s track and field team from the OVC. If these new rules were not in place, the OVC would have to search for a new track and field team. Before the automatic berth, a conference had to have at least five teams. Broncos leaving meant the OVC men’s track and field teams were down to four: Eastern, Eastern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri and Tennessee State.

Southeast Missouri head coach Eric Crumpecker believes the same people will still qualify, but coaches, schools and teams won’t know until the end.

“I like the older format,” Crumpecker said. “Now, nobody’s not really going to know. “

Crumpecker said one of the biggest differences is trying to

determine what an NCAA Regional qualifying time will be this season.

“You just not going to know for sure. You’re not going to know until the end of the last day.” he said.

Eastern head coach Tom Akers still scratches his head over the change, but said he and the rest of the athletes just have to adapt.

“It basically comes down to performance,” Akers said.

Except if I was a track athlete and got lucky and won my event in the OVC, I believe I would have earned the right to get to the NCAA Regional.

While the OVC meet is one of the most important for the Panthers, each meet becomes more important this season as athletes have only so much time to post qualifying scores. And with the opening meet of the outdoor season set for today and Saturday for the Eastern track teams at O’Brien Field, that qualifying push begins immediately.

Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or kjmurphy@eiu.edu