The track and field Bears head to Charleston, Ill., and Eastern Illinois University for their second competition of the season, the EIU Mega Meet, Saturday, Jan. 23.

The Bears return from a week off and look to build on their impressive showing at the Missouri Invitational, Jan. 8, where they earned 11 top-five finishes, including Mareneika Goffe's (Sr., Montego Bay, Jamaica) fourth career win in the high jump.

The Mega Meet will feature in-state rival Southeast Missouri State, as well as Lindenwood, McKendree, Chicago State and Ohio Valley Conference members Eastern Illinois and Murray State.

The Bears' sprint group will count on Missouri Invitational top-five performers Rashida Allen (Jr., Montego Bay, Jamaica), Corteneé Boulard (Sr., Beaumont, Texas), Yaneika Malcolm (Sr., Montego Bay, Jamaica) and Shantel Llewellyn (Jr., Ajax, Ontario), who finished third and fifth in the 200-meter and 60-meter dashes, respectively.

After having only three runners compete at the Missouri Invitational, the distance group will open up this weekend, meaning the 2010 track and field debut of returning NCAA National Qualifier and All-MVC performer, Terry Phillips (So., Kansas City, Mo.). Phillips will compete in the mile and 3,000-meter runs, with fellow returning All-MVC runner Staci Nelson (Sr., Chatham, Ill.) flanking her in the mile.

In addition to Goffe's attempt to repeat her high jump win, Jeláni Kelly (So., St. Louis, Mo.) and Zaleika Goffe (Sr., Montego Bay, Jamaica) will lead the field group into the Mega Meet. Kelly will compete in the shot put and weight throw, two events she set personal bests in last time out, while Zaleika Goffe will try to duplicate her top-three high jump finish at the Missouri Invitational. Also competing in the field group will be freshmen Jordan Bond (Normal, Ill.) and Kimsue Grant (Arlington, Va.), fresh off their four-five finish in the triple jump.

Events are set to begin at 9 a.m. at Lantz Fieldhouse, with the Bears competing in a total of 15.