Feb. 12, 2003

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- After a strong performance at last week's Indiana Invitational, the Southeast Missouri State University men's and women's indoor track teams will compete on Friday and Saturday at the USA Track & Field Open at Southern Illinois-Carbondale.

Over 20 teams will compete in the meet at the SIU Recreation Center with Friday's events beginning at 5 p.m. and Saturday's events at 9 a.m.

Top team entries include Vanderbilt, Georgia State, Southern Illinois, Troy State, Saint Louis and Ohio Valley Conference teams including Eastern Illinois, Murray State, Tennessee-Martin, Tennessee State and Southeast Missouri.

Sophomore thrower Heather Jenkins will be one of the favorites in the 20-pound weight throw and shot put. She has the best shot put throw in the OVC this season with a throw of 48-0 ½ at Indiana last week where she also established a new Southeast school record in the weight throw with a toss of 55-9.

Jay Heddell, Brandon Myer and Dan Jones will give Southeast a strong entry in the men's shot put. Heddell has the OVC's best throw this season at 57-5 ¾ while Myer has thrown 56-1.

Michele Jett will be one of the favorites in the women's pole vault where she has a personal best of 10-6 and Jordan Willi will be a top entry in the men's pole vault after a personal best of 14-1 ¼ last week at Indiana.

Shelton Scott will be a favorite in the long and triple jumps. He has the OVC's best mark in both events with a long jump of 23-10 and a triple jump of 49-4 ¼.

Southeast will be without the services of freshman distance ace Lindsay Zeiler who will be sidelined for the second straight week with a minor leg injury.