KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan track and field team heads to Eastern Illinois University for the EIU Panther Twilight Meet on Friday evening.

This is the final meet for the Broncos before next weekend's Mid-American Conference Championships at the University Toledo and the last chance to get in final qualifiers for the MAC. WMU currently has student-athletes automatically qualified in four events (400-meter dash, 100-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles, and the triple jump) and are within reach of qualifying in 10 others. To qualify a student-athlete must meet or exceed the predetermined qualifying mark for the event or be ranked approximately in the top 20. Only three student-athletes per team can enter into an event.

The EIU meet has been a staple on the outdoor season schedule for the Broncos and events begin at 11 a.m. with the throws. Running events begin at 4 p.m. and continue into the evening.

"We are still a young group with not many seniors," said head coach Kelly Lycan. "And the seniors we do have I hope can finish strong."

One of those seniors is Diajah Ruffin. Ruffin is set to compete in the triple jump, the 400-meter dash, and as a part of the 4x400-meter relay team, along with Jade McKnight, Keyera Lige, and Kaniya Weatherspoon. Ruffin is one of those Broncos already qualified for the MAC Championship. She currently ranks fourth in the triple jump and exceeded the minimum standard to automatically qualify. She also ranks 11th in the 400-meter dash.

WMU's other automatic MAC Championship qualifiers are Ayiana Gaines and Lige. Both have qualified for the 400-meter hurdles, while Gaines also boasts the MAC's top time in the 400-meter dash. Both are set to compete in the 400 hurdles on Friday evening.