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Eastern Illinois Panthers track and field

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Eastern Illinois Panthers track and field
FoundedMen’s: 1912
Women’s: 1974
UniversityEastern Illinois University
Athletic directorTom Michael
Head coachKeith Roberts (1st season)
ConferenceOVC
LocationCharleston, IL
Indoor trackLantz Field House[1]
Outdoor trackO'Brien Field
NicknamePanthers
ColorsBlue and gray[2]
   
NCAA Outdoor National Championships
Men's: Div. II 1974
Conference Indoor Championships
Men's: 1967, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2023

Women's: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017
Conference Outdoor Championships
Men's: 1981, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2021

Women's: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017

The Eastern Illinois Panthers track and field program represents Eastern Illinois University in the sport of track and field. The program includes separate men's and women's teams, both of which compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). The Panthers host their home indoor meets in the Lantz Field House and their home outdoor meets at O'Brien Field, both located on the university's campus. The Panthers track teams are currently led by head coach Keith Roberts.

History

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The Eastern Illinois men's track and field team was organized in 1912 and got its first official coach in 1933 in Winfield Angus. Before 1933, coaching duties were assumed by a male faculty member; the Panthers women's team was formed in 1974–75. Eastern Illinois joined the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in 1996, and the Panthers track team began to compete in the OVC in the winter of 1996.

Historically, the Panthers have been a force in the OVC, and have won a total of 51 conference team championships since 1996-97. The Panthers men have won seventeen OVC outdoor championships (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2021), and nineteen indoor championships (1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2023). The Panthers women have won eight OVC outdoor championships (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017), and seven indoor championships (2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017).

NCAA individual event champions

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Individual Champions:[3]

  • 1955: Ray White, NAIA Long Jump
  • 1967: John Craft, NAIA Triple Jump
  • 1969: John Craft, NCAA College Division Triple Jump
  • 1972: Rodney Jackson, NCAA College Division 400 hurdles
  • 1973: Rodney Jackson, NCAA College Division 400 hurdles
  • 1974: Darrell Brown, NCAA Division II Long Jump
  • 1975: Toni Ababio, NCAA Division II Long Jump
  • 1975: Toni Ababio, NCAA Division II Triple Jump
  • 1976: Ed Hatch, NCAA Division II 400 Meter Dash
  • 1979: Robert Johnson, NCAA Division II 110 hurdles
  • 1981: Augustine Oruwari, NCAA Division II 110 hurdles
  • 1988: Jim Maton, NCAA Division I 800 meter run (Indoor)
  • 1992: Dan Steele, NCAA Division I 400 hurdles

Group Champions:

  • 1981: 4x400 Relay, Women’s Track & Field AIAW II

Eastern Illinois Olympic medalists

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Dan Steele on an Eastern Illinois University Relay team

Retired Jersey

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Person Event Career Date of Retirement Ref.
John Craft Triple jump 1965–1969 January 22, 2011 [5]

Notable former athletes

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Track

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References

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  1. ^ "Eastern Illinois Facilities". Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  2. ^ "EIU BRANDING, MARKETING & LOGOS". Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  3. ^ "EIU National Championships". Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  4. ^ "Dan Steel". Journal Gazette and Times-Courier. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  5. ^ "EIU Track and Field Record Book" (PDF). p. 4. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  6. ^ "Dan Steel". Journal Gazette and Times-Courier. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  7. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Darrin Steele Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2018.