The Eastern men’s track and field team stayed put in the weekly regional rankings. The Panthers remain in the No. 9 spot after an OVC Indoor Championship tune-up at the Friday Night Special.

Individually, the Panthers have three team members ranked in the NCAA top fifty. Red-shirt junior Zye Boey continues to rank among the nation’s best, ranking No. 4 in the 200-meter dash and No. 24 in the 60-meter dash. Red-shirt freshman Mick Viken has dropped to No. 30 in the pole vault, while junior Tyler Carter ranks No. 43 in the long jump.

In the Midwest Region’s individual rankings, Boey is the No. 3 ranked runner in the 60-meter dash and the No. 1 overall in the 200-meter dash. The men’s 4×400 team of Cody Boarman, Darren Patterson, Preston Smith and Pat Tortorici are ranked No. 8 in the region, while Mick Viken is ranked No. 7 in the Midwest for the pole vault event. Tyler Carter is the No. 8 long jumper.

While the Panthers did not change positions in the region, the No. 1 team in the Midwest has. Big 12 power Nebraska has taken over the No. 1 spot from conference rival Oklahoma, who now sits at No. 2. The change at the top of the list was the only change to happen, with all other teams remaining in the same spot.

The women’s team is not ranked inside the top ten, and has no athletes in the regional rankings.

The Panthers will compete in the OVC Indoor Championships this weekend. The meet will take place at Lantz Fieldhouse, beginning Friday at 3:00.

Weekly Regional Ranking

1. Nebraska

2. Oklahoma

3. Minnesota

4. Iowa

5. Illinois

6. Wichita State

7. Iowa State

8. Kansas State

9. Eastern Illinois

10. Oral Roberts

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