After the men’s 1,600-meter sprint medley relay won at the Drake Relays on Saturday, a former Eastern athlete talked to current Eastern head coach Tom Akers.

That was current Northern Iowa head coach Dan Steele, and former NCAA champion for Eastern. The last Eastern athlete to win an event at the Drake Relays was former NCAA champion Dan Steele.

Steele was on hand to watch his own team compete in the event and caught up with Akers. Steele was the last Eastern athlete to win an event at the Drake Relays. He won the 400-meter hurdles in 1992 in 51.44 seconds,

The Eastern men’s track and field program has won eight events at the Drake Relays. The women’s program has had no winners at the competitive meet.

Akers unsure of injuries

Akers said some athletes pulled some hamstrings, but they’ll probably be ready for this weekend’s Ohio Valley Conference championships.

“It’s just a meet that really wears on ya,” Akers said.

Senior Shawana Smith and freshman Jacob Mitchell both had to pull up in their relays because of hamstring issues. Also, junior Andrea Fabiano rolled her ankle.

Carter honored by the News-Gazette

Sophomore Tyler Carter was named the News-Gazette’s Boys’ Track and Field Athlete of the Decade on Sunday.

The Tuscola native was key on his high school track team and has made a dent on the Eastern track program.

He was the state runner-up in the triple jump as a senior. As a senior, he helped the boys’ Tuscola track team finish third in Class 1A.

Also, former Eastern thrower and men’s basketball player Austin Hogue was part of the all-decade team. The Tuscola grad finished second in the discus and third in the shot put as a senior in Class 1A. Hogue ranks 10th all-time in the indoor shot put, seventh in the 35-pound weight throw and second in the javelin.

National rankings update

As on Monday afternoon, three Eastern athletes were ranked in the top 35 events nationally.

Senior Ian Winston is tied for 22nd in the nation in the high jump (7 feet, 0.5 inches). Winston holds the outdoor high jump record. Sophomore Megan Gingerich is ranked 32nd in the nation in the 800-meter run (2:07.55).

Gingerich is ranked second all-time in the 800-meter run in the outdoor season, and holds the second-best time in the indoor 800-meter run (2:13.50). Senior Kandace Arnold is ranked 19th (52 feet, 1.75 inches) in the shot put. Arnold has five throwing records.

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