MACOMB, IL - The Western Illinois track and field teams concluded competition at the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships in Louisville, Kentucky, with the men finishing eighth overall and the women placing seventh.

The Leathernecks were led by OVC Champion Toriano Tate, who captured the conference title in the long jump to headline the weekend. Cage Davison added an eighth place finish in the event to contribute additional team points.

Western Illinois showcased strength in the pole vault on both sides. Arnie Grunert earned a runner up finish for the men, while Nathan McLoughlin placed fifth and Charlie Terry recorded a sixth place finish with a personal best clearance.

On the women's side, Colleen Johnson delivered a second place finish with a personal best mark in the pole vault. Dana Surwillo added a fourth place finish, Emma Ponx placed fifth, and Kelly Fern secured seventh to round out a strong showing in the event.

In the heptathlon, Matthew Thomas finished sixth overall while recording a personal best performance across the two day competition.

Rayvon Wright scored in two events, placing seventh in the high jump and fourth in the triple jump. Kelsey Hutchins added a 10th place finish in the triple jump.

On the track, Maleigha Huston earned bronze in the 800 meters, running 2:12.79 in the finals after winning her preliminary heat. Huston also placed eighth in the mile.

Lydia Bennett recorded a fourth place finish in the mile with a personal best 5:04.29 and added a ninth place finish in the 3000 meters with another personal best performance. Logan Beckmier contributed on the men's side with a seventh place finish in the 3000 meters.

Alyssa Adeoti scored in the 400 meters, placing eighth in 58.60 while marking a personal best during the meet.

The women's distance medley relay team earned a runner up finish in 12:02.33, a time that ranks fourth all time in program history. The women's 4x400 meter relay placed seventh in 3:54.19, which moves into 10th all time at Western Illinois. The men's 4x400 meter relay also finished seventh with a time of 3:24.60.

Several Leathernecks recorded personal bests outside of scoring positions. Kenneth Cooley ran 6.96 in the 60 meters, a time that ranks fifth all time in program history, and 21.86 in the 200 meters, which ranks second all time. DonPaul Keith added personal bests of 7.00 in the 60 and 22.87 in the 200.

In the middle distances, Finley Hancock clocked 2:22.51 in the 800 meters. Cassie Brushaber ran 19:37.81 in the 3000 meters, Ellie Eastman posted 10:55.26 in the 3000, and Lily Patterson recorded a personal best 5:20.95 in the mile. In the throws, Kamaya McDuffy recorded a personal best mark of 11.55 meters in the shot put.

Western Illinois now shifts its focus to the outdoor season following a championship weekend that featured a conference title, multiple podium finishes, and several performances that climbed the program's all time lists.

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