West Central Reporter

The Western Illinois track and field program received positive news as four of its student-athletes have qualified for the NCAA West Region Meet scheduled from May 22-25 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The athletes who have secured their spots are Arnie Grunert (pole vault), Toriano Tate (long jump), Aliyah Adams (triple jump), and Renee Raglin (long jump).

Athletes ranking among the top 48 in their respective events earn a place in the NCAA West Region First Round. Those with the top 12 performances and relay teams at both East and West First Rounds will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

This marks the highest number of regional qualifiers for Western Illinois since 2014 when four competitors advanced. The two women qualifiers are the most since 2012, while two men last qualified together in 2021.

Grunert is recognized as Western Illinois' leading pole vaulter, achieving a height of 17 feet, 4.5 inches, which places him at 20th in the region. Toriano Tate enters with an improved seed position due to recent changes, now ranked 46th after initially being seeded 52nd. His season's best is recorded at 24-9.25.

Renee Raglin recently won an OVC long jump title and ranks second all-time in WIU history with a leap of 20-5, seeding her at 37th. Aliyah Adams, named OVC's Female Athlete of the Meet last Saturday, will compete in the triple jump with a personal best distance of 42-06.75, placing her as the 23rd seed.

Competition begins on Wednesday with Tate participating at 6 p.m., followed by Grunert's event at 6:30 p.m. Raglin competes on Thursday evening starting at 6 p.m., while Adams concludes on Saturday night also beginning at 6 p.m.

Successful athletes will proceed to the NCAA National Meet in Eugene, Oregon from June 5-8. The last Leatherneck athlete to reach nationals was Ackeen Colley during the indoor season in 2021. Jasmine Brown was the last to qualify for outdoor nationals and compete in 2015.