RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University track and field program will host a qualify field for the inaugural Rick Erdmann Twilight April 16-17 at Tom Samuels Track.
 
Nineteen schools are expected to be represented at the meet, including Kentucky, Furman, Butler, Belmont, West Virginia, Eastern Michigan, Grand Valley State, Toledo, Loyola Chicago, Morehead State, Northern Kentucky, Bellarmine, Kennesaw State, Wright State, Miami (Ohio), Kentucky State, Union College, and Lee (Tenn.).
 
Professional running team Tinman Elite will also have athletes at the meet, including former EKU All-American Jamaine Coleman in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase.
 
The meet will begin on Friday at 10:30 a.m. with field events. Running events get underway at 11:00 a.m. The day session will wrap up with the 200 meters around 2:00 p.m.
 
Following an eight-hour break, the women's and men's 3,000-meter steeplechase are scheduled to go at 10:00 p.m. and 10:20 p.m., respectively.
 
Redshirt freshman Laura Taborda – fresh off her school-record 10:22.08 at Ole Miss – will race in the women's steeplechase, while freshman Pedro García-Palencia – owner of the 18^th fastest men's steeplechase time in the country (8:54.8) – will compete in the men's race. Indoor All-American Ahmed Jaziri is also expected to make his outdoor debut in the men's steeplechase on Friday night.
 
Action resumes on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. with field events. Running events open at 6:30 p.m. and will wrap up around 9 p.m. with the men's 5,000 meters invitational.
 
An EKU Senior Ceremony will be held at the track around 7:20 p.m.
 
The Rick Erdmann Twilight is EKU's first home meet since 2012. It will be held on Tom Samuels Track's new Mondo Super X 720 surface, which was installed in the summer of 2020. The state-of-the-art surface is featured throughout the facility, including the high jump, javelin and steeplechase water jump areas, and the pole vault, long jump and triple jump runways.
 
Mondo has produced the world's top tracks for more than 40 years. Globally recognized as the fastest, most durable and environmentally safest track available, Mondo's Super X track has been used in eight Olympic Games.
 
Space at the track is extremely limited due to COVID-19 protocols. Only spectators on a team pass list will be permitted, based on a capacity of 204 spectators in the venue at a time.

The Rick Erdmann Twilight is named in honor of the legendary former EKU head coach. Rick Erdmann won 73 Ohio Valley Conference titles in cross country / track and field during his 39 years as the head coach of the Colonels (1979-2018).