Eastern’s track team is set for its indoor season after claiming its fourth straight Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track Championship last season.

One the women’s side, red-shirt junior pole-vaulter Jade Riebold returns after winning the OVC Field Athlete of the Year and finishing first in the OVC Championship in the pole vault with a height of 4.03 meters.

Senior pole-vaulter Abigail Schmitz also earned a spot on the All-OVC team.

Schmitz placed second in the OVC Championship pole-vault with a height of 3.93 meters. Riebold’s and Schmitz’s heights are the top two vaults in program history.

Three more returning runners also made it onto the All-OVC team. Senior Erika Ramos will be a key distance runner. Her top time of 4:53.67 in the mile is the best in Eastern history.

Junior hurdler Jalisa Paramore will be one of the top returning players on the women’s side, as her time of 8.73 seconds is the sixth fastest in program history.

Junior thrower Condia Smith also returns as a key member after placing third in the shot put at the OVC Championships with a distance of 13.43 meters. Her weight throw distance of 15.92 meters was second at the OVC Championships.

Senior distance runners Britney Whitehead and Paige Biehler also figure to be key contributors for the Panthers. Whitehead finished ninth at the OVC Championships, recording a time of 5:19.53. Biehler’s 800-meter personal best of 2:13.50 is the fourth fastest time in program history.

The men’s team returns the core of its team as well. Juniors Kaleel Johnson and Cody Boarman will lead the sprinters.

Johnson placed second at the OVC Championships in the 200-meter run with a time of 22.15 seconds. Boarman placed second at the OVC Championships in the 400-meter with a time of 48.46 seconds.

Bryce Basting and Sean Wiggan should lead the distance squad. Basting’s 800-meter time of 1:52.56 is the 10th best in program history. He placed third at the OVC Championship, finishing with a time of 1:53.12. Wiggan’s 600-meter personal best of 1:19.70 is the fastest in Eastern history. He won the 800-meter race at the OVC Championships with a time of 1:52.08.

Red-shirt senior hurdler Lamarr Pottinger will also be one of the key members of the team.

His best 60-meter hurdle time is 8.09 seconds. Red-shirt junior pole-vaulter

Mick Viken will also be returning coming off a season where set the program record, vaulting 5.30 meters. He placed first in four of the seven meets he competed in last season.

Junior thrower Jared Diaz will be one of the top contributors for Eastern as well. He placed fourth at the OVC Championships in the weight throw with a distance of 16.50 meters.

OVC coach of the year Tom Akers has a simple goal for the team.

“If we can perform well early and continue to improve that would be great.” Akers said.

Holden Fuehne can be reached at 581-2812 or hjfuehne@eiu.edu.