EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE track and field begins the three-day Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship on Thursday, May 9. The meet will take place at O'Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois in Charleston, Illinois.
The multi-events will start the day off on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. CT. The field events begin at 1:00 p.m. with the women's hammer throw, while the running events begin at 5:00 p.m. with the prelims for the women's 400-meter hurdles.
Friday will begin with the multi-events at 9:00 a.m., followed by the field events at 2:30 p.m. and the running events at 5:00 p.m. On the final day, the field events will kick off at 11:00 a.m. with the women's shot put and the track events will start at 12:30 p.m. The Championship concludes with the men's 4x400 meter relay, followed by a graduation recognition at 4:15 p.m. and the award ceremonies at 4:30 p.m.
All three days of the Championship will be streamed on ESPN+ and can be accessed through the provided links.
Meet Information
Host: Eastern Illinois
Date: Thursday, May 9 through Saturday, May 11
Venue: O'Brien Field (EIU Campus)
Start Times: Thursday – Multi-Events: 9:00 a.m. / Field Events: 1:00 p.m. / Running Events: 5:00 p.m.
Friday – Multi-Events: 9:00 a.m. / Field Events: 2:30 p.m. / Running Events: 5:00 p.m.
Saturday –Field Events: 11:00 a.m. / Running Events: 12:30 p.m.
Women to Watch:
Folasade Oladipupo posted a season-best mark in the women's long jump in the Cougars' opening meet of the outdoor season at the Joey Haines Invitational (Mar. 29-30). Her 5.69m leap ranks 10th in the OVC this season. Nyah Williams also recorded an 11.73m jump in the women's triple jump, good for 10th in the league rankings.
At the WashU Distance Carnival (Mar. 29), Chessy Nikonowicz (42:15.98) and Alexis Fischer (43:31.93) posted top 10 conference times at eighth and ninth in the women's 10,000m.
Aseanti Boone set a PR en route to a first-place finish at the SLU Billiken Invitational (Apr. 5) in the women's high jump at 1.66m. Her mark stacks up sixth in the OVC rankings. In the women's discus, Kaitlyn Morningstar enters the Championship ranked eighth in the league at 42.76m.
Alexis Hutchins posted the top mark in the conference in the women's hammer throw at the SLU Billiken Invitational following a 57.26m toss.
At the Outdoor Music City Challenge (Apr. 26-27), Kaylee Allen ran a 11.94 time in the women's 100m dash, good for eighth in the league standings. Kailah Carter crossed the finish line at 56.77 in the women's 400m. The senior's time stacks up eighth in the league.
Gabrielle Horton ranks ninth in the OVC after turning in a 2:16.30 mark in the women's 800m at the Outdoor Music City Challenge. Vashanti Reynolds leads the conference following her 13.73 time in the women's 100m hurdles.
In the women's 3,000m steeplechase, freshman Mia Loafman ran a season-best mark at 11:53.96. She stands seventh on the conference leaderboard.
Hutchins posted a 14.68m mark in the women's shot put in Nashville, good for third in the conference standings. Claire Bushur ranks fourth at 14.04m.
Men to Watch:
Roland Prenzler enters the OVC Championship ranked third in the men's 10,000m following a 31:02.58 time at the WashU Distance Carnival (Mar. 29). Spencer Hielkema comes in at fourth with a 31:08.75 time.
Luke Hatten threw for a PR at the SLU Billiken Invitational (Apr. 5) and earned second place at 15.18m, good for ninth in the conference ranks. Grant Milbrath posted a career best mark in the men's discus with a 45.35m toss. His mark ranks seventh in the league.
Milbrath also posted a PR with a 54.04m throw in the men's hammer throw at the SIUE Cougar Classic (Apr. 13). His distance ranks eighth in the OVC.
At the Gibson Invitational (Apr. 18), Taylor Lehman (54.21), Simon McClaine (54.54) and Cole Knapp (54.91) all recorded PRs in the 400m hurdles. All three student-athletes rank inside the top 10 of the conference rankings in the 400m hurdles. Milbrath also set a PR at the Gibson Invitational in the men's shot put at 15.76, good for fifth in the league.
Tyler Bell comes in at ninth in the 110m hurdle OVC rankings following a 14.71 mark at the Outdoor Music City Challenge (Apr. 26). Lehman also set a PR in Nashville and ranks 10th in the league at 15.01.
Drew Tucker stacks up fourth in the conference following a 2.03m mark in the men's high jump at the Outdoor Music City Challenge.
Stay connected with the Cougars all season long by following @SIUETrackandField on Instagram and @SIUETrackField on X.
