Four Ohio Valley Conference student-athletes will compete at the 2025 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The event is being held June 11-14 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Western Illinois’ Arnie Grunert qualified by placing second in the pole vault at the NCAA West Regional in College Station, Texas, clearing 5.42m (17’09.75”). The mark matched the top height of the event. Grunert looks to improve on last year's 17th place finish.
Southeast Missouri will send Paden Lewis and Donald Hatfield Jackson to the national championships. Lewis will compete in the discus after qualifying with a personal best toss of 58.89m (193’02.00”). Jackson earned a spot in the high jump with a height of 2.17m (7'01.50").
Abraham Johnson of Eastern Illinois qualified in the triple jump with a leap of 16.10m (52’10”).
Grunert will be in action on Wednesday, June 11, the opening day of the finals. The other three will compete on Friday, June 13.
OVC at the NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
Wednesday, June 11
Arnie Grunert, Western Illinois – Pole Vault
– 6:35 pm CT
Friday, June 13
Paden Lewis, Southeast Missouri – Discus
- 2:15 pm CT
Donald Hatfield Jackson, Southeast Missouri – High Jump
- 6:30 pm CT
Abraham Johnson, Eastern Illinois – Triple Jump
- 7:10 pm CT