Eastern had three track and field athletes honored by the Ohio Valley Conference for their performances at the EIU Early Bird meet on Dec. 10.

Red-shirt junior sprinter Zye Boey was named OVC Male Track Athlete of the Week after he won the 60-meter and 200-meter dash.

Boey posted a time of 6.75 in the 60-meter dash and 21.87 in the 200-meter dash, ranking him first in the OVC with the fastest times in both events, while also ranking him 10th in the NCAA for the 60-meter and fifth in the NCAA for the 200-meter.

The EIU Early Bird meet was Boey’s first indoor track competition since 2009, after missing the 2010 indoor season with a knee injury.

During that 2009 season, Boey was named Athlete of the Year for the indoor season.

Sophomore middle distance runner Erika Ramos was named OVC Female Track Athlete of the Week. Ramos took first place in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:13.96.

The time posted by Ramos ranks number three on the Eastern career list.

It also gives Ramos the best time in the OVC and the number two time in the NCAA.

Ramos also competed in the distance medley event as the anchor leg.

The team, also featuring junior Olivia Klaus, junior Erika Foltys and junior Megan Gingerich, took first place with a time of 12:38.26.

The EIU Early Bird was the first competition for Ramos since competing in the OVC cross country championships and NCAA Midwest Regionals.

Ramos finished 14th at the OVC championship and 139th at the NCAA Midwest Regionals.

Red-shirt freshman pole vaulter Mick Viken was named OVC Male Field Athlete of the Week after clearing the bar at 16’09.50″.

The mark ranks second on Eastern’s all-time list, as well as first in the OVC and fourth in the NCAA.

The EIU Early Bird was the first meet for Viken as a Panther. Viken transferred to Eastern after red-shirting the 2009-2010 season at the University of Wisconsin.

Around the OVC

Sophomore Cenitra Hudson of Austin Peay was named OVC Female Field Athlete of the Week after setting a school record in the triple jump at the Ed Temple/Tennessee State Invitational.

Despite capturing the record, Hudson’s 40’10.25″ jump only gave her a third place finish.

Tennessee State held the Ed Temple/Tennessee State Invitational on Jan. 8.

Tennessee State had three top-five finishers in the 800-meter, high jump and 400×4-meter relay.

Eastern Kentucky will begin their indoor track and field season on Jan. 14 at the University of Kentucky Invitational.

Jacksonville State will begin their indoor track and field season on Jan. 14 at the SASF Invitational held in Carbondale.

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