In preparation for hosting the Ohio Valley Conference indoor championships, the men’s track team lapped the field in the small Friday Night Special in Lantz Fieldhouse.

“We had some good performances, and that’s a good sign,” head coach Tom Akers said. “It’s time to get ready for the championships.”

Although not many full teams attended the meet, the individual events still remained competitive. The University of Illinois only sent its pole vaulters, and Illinois State University and Butler University also competed with partial teams. In the multiple dual-meet format, Eastern’s track team easily beat the field.

The story of Friday night was Qunicy Jackson. Jackson won the triple jump with a personal indoor best of 45-feet-8-inches, and he also won the high jump and the long jump.

“Quincy had a very good meet,” Akers said. “What was even more impressive was this was the first time he did the triple jump this year.”

This was the second-best jump in the conference this year, and Akers is now optimistic the team can score points in the triple jump to bolster an already deep, well-rounded team.

Ruffner Francis placed second in the high jump with a season best at 6-feet-6-inches, and Justin Young also posted a season best at 6-feet-4-inches to tie for fourth with Francis.

In other field events, Dave Astrauskas, Tyler Fagan and Ron White all had season-best throws in the weighted throw to finish second, third and fourth respectively. For Fagan and White, these were personal bests as well. Nathan Hustedde also threw for a personal best in the weight throw.

In the shot put, Clint Alexander and Astrauskas threw for season bests. This is encouraging for Eastern because next weekend Southeast Missouri State will bring strong representatives to the throwing events.

“Southeast Missouri State is our main competition at conference,” Akers said. “It will probably come down to us and them in a few certain events.”

In the track events, Jarrod Macklin won the 200-meter run and the 400, and Greg Belger won the 60-meter hurdles and took second in the 200.

“Terrance Roberts and Sean Fairclough also did good in the 60-meter hurdles,” Akers said. “They’ve showed a lot of improvement.”

Jason Bialka won the mile, and Jermaine Jones and Kevin Christian ran personal bests in the 600 with a time of 1:21. Steven Edwards ran a personal best in the 800 as well.

The sprinters are also showing improvement. Roberts, James Benson and Antwan Oliver finished third, fourth and fifth in the 60-meter dash, with Benson and Oliver posting season-best times. Oliver also placed third in the 200.

“It’s good to have had our first meet at homeout of the way,” Akers said. “Now we just have to get mentally ready for conference and hope we peak at the right time.”