Eastern Illinois has released its 2016-17 indoor and outdoor track schedule which includes four regular season home meets and the hosting of the 2017 OVC Indoor Championships at Lantz Fieldhouse. The indoor season will begin for the Panthers on Friday, Dec. 9 hosting the EIU Early Bird Meet. Following the winter break, the Panthers return to action on Jan. 13-14 at the Illinois Winter Meet. The annual EIU John Craft Invite is set for Jan. 21 with the EIU Friday Night Special on Feb. 17. This year's OVC Indoor Championships will take place on Feb. 24-25 in Charleston. Additional indoor meets on this year's schedule include trips to Indiana, Notre Dame and Grand Valley State. The NCAA Indoor National Championships will take place on March 10-11 at Texas A&M The Panthers open the outdoor season at home hosting the EIU Big Blue Classic on March 31 and April 1. EIU will then travel for regular season meets at Illinois State, Western Illinois, Illinois, Drake and Indiana. The 2017 OVC Outdoor Championships will take place May 12-13 in Oxford, Alabama hosted by Jacksonville State. The NCAA West Regional will take place in Austin, Texas and the NCAA Outdoor National Championships are June 7-10 in Eugene, Oregon. The EIU men won their 16th OVC Indoor Championship last season and placed second at the OVC Outdoor Championship. The EIU women were second at the OVC Indoor Championship before winning their eighth OVC Outdoor title.