May 1, 2009 

Day One Results

RICHMOND, Ky. (Friday, May 1, 2009) - Strong performances in the field events propelled the Southeast Missouri State men's and women's track teams to first place in the team competition after day one of the Ohio Valley Conference Track and Field Championships at Tom Samuels Track on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University. The women's has a 18.5 point lead over favorite Eastern Illinois, 67.50-49.00. On the men's side the Redhawks have an 11-point lead on the Panthers, 58-47.

The Redhawks won five individual events on day one with the women getting individual titles from Juli Koenegstein in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Samantha Espiricueta in the javelin and Ashley Brewer in the shot put.

Koenegstein eclipsed her previous OVC Championship record time in the steeplechase finishing in 10:45.45. Monica Noble placed eighth with a time of 12:00.85.

After placing second at last year's outdoor championships, Espiricueta won the javelin with a toss of 144'-11.00". Teammate Rebecca Martin placed for the third time in her four years in the javelin, placing second with a throw of 135'-0.00". Newcomer Aubrey Dondlinger completed the scorers for the Redhawks in the event finishing seventh.

Brewer, the 2009 OVC Outdoor Female Field of the Year, showed she deserved the title as she won the shot put with a toss of 50'-7.25". Her throw set a new personal best and ranks third on the school's all-time charts. The toss just missed the OVC Championship record. It was her second OVC title and her first OVC outdoor title. Teammate Brianna Egbuka finished fourth with a throw of 46'-0.00".

Sophomore Cara Harbstreet found success in the high jump, tying for third with a leap of 5'-2.25". Funtasia Clark also cleared 5'-2.25" but placed seventh.

Freshman Shemeika Brewer recorded a new career best in the long jump with a leap of 18'-6.50" to place fourth. Rachel Kahle finished seventh with a jump of 17'-10.75". In the 10,000 meter run Amy Warren placed fourth with a time of 39:13.33 with Szandra Pal placing sixth with a time of 40:34.78.

The Southeast men got individual titles from Josh Uchtman in the shot put and Richard Martin in the javelin. The men got 24 of their 58 points in the shot put with Uchtman followed by Andy Glass and Richard Martin for a Redhawks 1-2-3 finish.

Uchtman, who won the OVC Indoor shot put title, won with a throw of 52'-0.50".

Martin's javelin toss of 168'-5.00" gave him his first OVC title of his career. Glass finished fourth in the javelin with a throw of 149'-5.00".

The men got a second place finish from Brandon Karcher in the 10,000 meters as he finished in 32:10.82. Jason Lumpkin placed fifth with a time of 32:18.49.

Tyler Terry came up short in his bid to add an outdoor long jump title to go with his indoor title as he placed fourth with a leap of 22'-1.75".

In the high jump freshman Josh Sutton tied for third place by clearing 6'-6.00".

Brandon Funderburke rounded out the men's scorers as he finished sixth in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 10:03.88.

In preliminary action for the women Kahle advanced to Saturday's finals in the 100 and 200 meter dashes as well as seeing action in both relays. Jerica Hamm had the second-best prelims time in the 400 meters.

Elizabeth Prewitt-Allen will compete in the 400 meter hurdle finals. Whitney Thomas advanced to the finals of the 100 meter hurdles. Koenegstein will come back Saturday to race the 1,500 and 5,000-meters.

The men's team will have three runners in the 200 meter finals with Myron Pettigrew leading the way by finishing third in the prelims. Robert Delaria and Darion Ginger will join him. Pettigrew will also run in the 400 meter finals as will Chris Gill.

Ginger will also compete in the 100 meter finals after having the fourth best prelims time (10.76).