The Eastern track team began its 2010-2011 indoor season Friday at home with the EIU Early Bird meet.

The meet featured schools from around the Midwest, including Indiana State, Cincinnati, Northern Illinois, Kennesaw State and Butler. After missing all of last year’s indoor season with a knee injury, Zye Boey, a junior red-shirt, looked to return to the indoor circuit with a strong performance.

Boey did just that, winning both the 60m and 200m sprints. Boey finished the 60m in first place, in front of Jacob Mitchell, a sophomore red-shirt, with a time of 6.75. Boey also finished in front of senior Darren Patterson in the 200m with a time of 21.87.

Patterson was named Ohio Valley Conference Male Athlete of the Year for last year’s indoor track season.Members of Eastern’s cross country team also looked to compete in their first track meet of the year.

Sophomore Erika Ramos took first in the 800m with a time of 2:13.96. This time was the third best time in Eastern history. The top time is 2:12.54, set in 1987 by Lauren Lynch.

OVC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Megan Gingerich, a junior red-shirt, won the 1000m with a time of 2:58.82. Wes Sheldon, a senior red-shirt, also won the men’s 1000m with a time of 2:31:01.

Junior Olivia Klaus took second in the women’s one mile run with a time of 5:18.57, finishing behind Butler sophomore Katie Clark, who finished with a time of 4:55.14.

Junior Matt Feldhake, who finished eighth in the men’s 1000m, said he felt good about the team’s performance.

“As early as it is, everyone has just come out and done what they can, especially for where they are in the season,” Feldhake said.

Freshman Ryan Ballard, who finished with a time of 4:26.53 in the men’s one mile run, also said he felt good about the team’s first meet of the season.

“I think we are doing good, especially for it being the first meet,” Ballard said. “It really shows how well our fall training has been going, and everyone just wanted to go out and compete.”

For as successful of a season the Panthers had last year, junior Bridget Sanchez said this team can be even more successful.

“I’m really proud of all of our girls,” Sanchez said. “I think we can be a lot stronger than last year. Our freshmen and our young sprinters all did really well. I’m excited for the season, and I think we are really developing well.”

Sanchez finished second in the women’s 400m, posting a time of 57.70.

Sophomore Danny Harris, a former hurdler, ran his first 4×400 relay Friday. He said his fellow teammates and head coach Tom Akers helped him build his strength and confidence.

“I really just wanted to see what I could do,” Harris said. “I need to thank my team. They always keep me motivated.”

Harris, along with sophomore Dominique Hall, junior Kenneth White and freshman Kaleel Johnson, posted a time of 3:32.34 in the men’s 4×400 relay.

Hall said he was happy with the team’s performance and liked the direction the team was moving in.

“For the most part, I think we did good,” Hall said. “We lost a few people, but we’ve also gained a few. I really think we can take the team back to where we were last year.”

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-7944 or dcrenzetti@eiu.edu.

Jared Diaz, a freshman thrower, participates in the men’s weight throw Friday during the EIU Early Bird Meet in the Lantz Fieldhouse. (Danny Damiani

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