Leathernecks to host 21st annual Lee Calhoun Memorial Invitational

MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois track and field team is set to host the 21st annual Lee Calhoun Memorial Invitational beginning Friday, April 9 at 3 p.m. and extending into Saturday, April 10.

The historical meet, held on the Western Illinois track at Hanson Field, honors Lee Quency Calhoun. Calhoun was the track and field coach at Western Illinois from 1980 until his untimely passing in 1989. An internationally known track and field figure, Calhoun was a two-time Olympic gold medal winner in the high hurdles, and the first man to win successive titles in the event. He won his first gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Games and his second came four years later at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.

Calhoun was inducted into the inaugural class of the United States Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1974. He was a seven-time national champion, five-time world record holder and a member of the National Track and Field, Olympic (1991) and Western Illinois University Athletics (1990) Halls of Fame.

A life-size bronze sculpture honoring Calhoun was dedicated March 27, 1993, during the fourth running of the invitational. The sculpture, entitled “Excellence on Winged Feet,” was created by Colorado artist Lee Hanson, and is a permanent fixture displayed in Lee Calhoun Memorial Plaza at Hanson Field. A dedication ceremony for the Lee Calhoun Memorial Plaza and statue will be held, Friday at 4 p.m.

In addition to Gwen Calhoun, the wife of the late Lee Calhoun, six special guests and Olympians will be in attendance for the ceremony and invitational including three-time Olympic medalist Ralph Boston, Olympic medalist Josh Culbreath, world record holder Hayes Jones, Ohio Relays champion Paul Jones, Olympic medalist Willie May and all-American Dave Odegard.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Lee Calhoun and his family associated with Western Illinois track and field,” Western Illinois interim head coach Matt Morris said. “We want this to be the best meet in the Midwest and from that standpoint there is pressure. From the competitive standpoint we are excited to be on our own track. Any time you can run on your own track and you know it well, you have a tremendous advantage.”

The field of competition for the meet is stacked with competitors from Iowa, Marquette, Eastern Illinois, Bradley, IPFW and Chicago State to name a few. The meet is only Western's second of the outdoor season.

“On the men's side we are pretty strong,” Morris said. “We are a better men's team then we were last year. We have a lot of seniors, our sophomore throwers have improved and we got back our redshirt-first-team all conference kids in Luke Miller, Jared Schmidt and Eric Anerino. We had some losses this season in athletes like Blaire Hadnott, but should still be strong.

“On the women's side we're young, and we're redshirting a lot of our experienced kids so it will be a tough season,” Morris continued. “We are getting them experience they may not get otherwise so we can be stronger next season. Niki Klier, Carianna Cottone, Dana LaRue and Nichole Manning are all redshirting and it will set us up well for next season.”

Field events open with the hammer throw at 3 p.m. on Friday. The running events on day one include the sprint medley relay, 3,000-meter run, 4x800 meter relay, 4x200 meter relay and 10,000-meter run. Saturday's events open with the javelin at 9 a.m.

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