CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Western Illinois track and field team put together another solid meet at the Eastern Illinois Friday Night Special (Feb. 19), where Lucas Hofer and Ackeen Colley each registered wins in a meet that saw four Top 3 efforts.
"All in all, I thought it was a really good meet for us as there were several athletes that set personal bests in his or her events. Having a chance to compete fairly close to home is a blessing, particularly as we head into the indoor conference championship next week. We are looking forward to getting back on a 300-meter track for some fast times," said head coach Diane Wholey.
"It was a good day for us across the different event groups. It was a positive opportunity for the team to do some fine-tuning before we go to the championship meet. Even for those student-athletes that did not set PRs but perhaps moved closer to them, it's a great motivational opportunity for them to take a positive and committed game plan into one of the most important meets of the indoor season and to compete to the best of their possibility."
After putting WIU's 800-meter squad on the map in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) rankings, Colley (1:52.40) and Richard Brown (1:54.94) continued their reign by taking first and third place in the event at the Lantz Fieldhouse. The performance notched back-to-back 800-meter wins for Colley, who is coming off a historic, record-setting meet at Grand Valley State.
Hofer was the first Leatherneck to see victory at EIU and did so in the 600-meter run. He demolished his previous collegiate best with a first-place time of 1:22.35, which also saw him jump four spots in Western's record book to second all-time.
"It was great to get a tune-up meet before heading into conference," said assistant coach Brandon Hazouri. "I was happy to see Hofer get his first-ever win at the college level. Overall, today was really just about fine tuning some of the little things before heading into our biggest meet of the year."
Six Leathernecks who finished in the top half of their field also recorded a PR in their respective events. Senior Tyronay Taylor was a threat in air and by foot with collegiate bests in the long jump (5.42 meters) and 60-meter dash (8.03), and Amelia Peterson also PR'd in the 60-meter prelim (7.99) after notching second place in the triple jump (11.57 meters).
Western is off to Brookings, S.D., for The Summit League Indoor Track and Field Championships Presented by The U.S. Air Force Special Warfare next week. The two-day meet begins Saturday, Feb. 27.
EIU Friday Night Special Top Performances (Athlete | Time/Mark | Finish)
Weight Throw
Jasmine Stokes | 14.81m | 8/15
Long Jump
Tyronay Taylor | 5.42m | 6/18
Triple Jump
Amelia Peterson | 11.57m | 2/5
60 Meters Prelims
Amelia Peterson | 7.99 | 7/17
Tyronay Taylor | 8.03 | 8/17
200 Meters
Zwandi Harrison | 26.78 | 7/15
400 Meters
Zwandi Harrison | 1:02.19 | 7/13
600 Meters
Lucas Hofer | 1:22.35 | 1/4
800 Meters
Ackeen Colley | 1:52.40 | 1/11
Richard Brown | 1:54.94 | 3/11
BOLDED = PR
