CAPE GIRARDEAU - If Southeast Missouri State University freshman distance standout Lindsay Zeiler is able to run in this weekend's Ohio Valley Conference indoor track championships at Eastern Illinois University, Southeast will be favored to win the team title.

Zeiler, the OVC cross country champion, is recovering from a stress fracture in the small bone in her leg, but has been cleared to run on Friday and Saturday. She will be a heavy favorite in the mile and 3,000-meters and would anchor the favored distance medley relay team.

"If Lindsay runs, she could score 30 points for us and that would be huge," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "We will just see how she warms up on Friday and go from there. We won't take a chance on the rest of her indoor and outdoor season if she feels like she can't run at full strength."

With or without Zeiler, Southeast should be in the running for the women's title in a battle with Tennessee State and Eastern Kentucky.

The Southeast men could win more events than any other team, but probably lack the overall team depth to challenge Eastern Illinois for the title, but could finish as high as second.

Southeast will score big points in the field events in both the men's and women's competition.

Heather Jenkins will be favored to win both the shot put and weight throw with Nichole Portell, Megan Youse and Katie Perriguey expected to add valuable points.

Michelle Jett has the best pole vault in the OVC this season at 11-feet and will be one of four vaulters expected to place in the top five. The other vaulters will be Megan Rosenkoetter, Renee Herzog and Lori Sarantakis.

Senior Courtney Haman has the best high jump in the OVC this season while Meleisa Greene and Lindsey Meyr are among the top entries in the long jump.

On the track, Brooke Woodruff, who will also run on the DMR and mile relay, has the best time in the 800-meters. LaQuita Andrews will be one of the favorites in the 200 and 400-meters while Greene, Rose Fulton and Natasha Fortenberry should score valuable points in the 55 and 200-meters.

Lyndsey Stevenson will be one of the hurdle favorites with Greene expected to also score in the hurdles.

Kaci Pilcher will run the mile, 3,000 and DMR while Kris Woolf will be in the 5,000. The mile relay team of Jeanna Bolen, Meyr, Woodruff and Andrews will be one of the favorites.

Two-time defending OVC shot put champion Jay Heddell will head up the men's talented field event entries that could see Southeast win every field event. Shelton Scott, the defending triple jump champion will also be favored in the long jump and freshman Andrew Lambert has the best high jump in the OVC this season and will also score points in the long and triple jumps.

Brandon Myer and Daniel Jones will be favorites in the weight throw and should also place high in the shot put. Freshman Jordan Willi has the best pole vault this season in the OVC.

On the track, Jared Tanz will be one of the favorites in the 800-meters while Chad Sierman should place high in the 3,000. Brian Whitehead could gain valuable points in the 5,000.

Emmanuel Opoku and Shawn Statler will be key entries in the sprint events and David Herman should score in the hurdles and triple jump.