April 30, 2003

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- After coming up 3.5 points short at the Ohio Valley Conference indoor track and field championships, the Southeast Missouri State University women's track team hopes to muster the additional points needed to win the OVC outdoor championships on Friday and Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.

Tennessee State, the host team for the outdoor OVC championships, won the indoor title with 139.5 points while Southeast was second with 136 and Eastern Kentucky third with 130. Those three teams are again expected to battle for the outdoor title.

"I told our women they just had to do what they are capable of doing and we will have a good chance to win the championship," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "We don't need fantastic performances we just need every team member to do their job. It will again be a battle with Tennessee State and Eastern Kentucky."

Going into the championship, the Southeast women have the league's top performances in several events. Heather Jenkins, who won the shot put and weight throw at the OVC indoor, has the top shot put (48-0 1/2) and discus (157-3). She won both events at last year's outdoor.

Courtney Haman, two-time defending champion, has the top javelin throw at 153-9 which is 21-6 further than any other throw in the OVC this year. Meleisa Greene has the top long jump (19-0 ¼) and Brooke Woodruff, the indoor 800 champion, has the best time in the 800 (2:11.41).

Hannah Stuckenschneider has the second best time in the 400 with a 54.91 while Leslie Leary of TSU has timed 54.36. Laura VanHoevelaak has the second fastest time in the 400-hurdles at 61.11 while Tanika Smotherman of Austin Peay has timed 60.60.

Both Southeast relay teams have the second fastest time, trailing TSU in both.

The Southeast men's team should be in the hunt for a top three finish. Eastern Illinois is the favorite with Eastern Kentucky and Southeast Missouri in a battle for second.

"We should win several events, but we just aren't deep enough to challenge the EIU men," Haines said. "I think we can win every field event except the javelin."

Shelton Scott, the indoor OVC champion in the long and triple jumps, will try to duplicate his double outdoors. He has the best triple jump at 50-9 ½ and the fourth best long jump at 23-5 ¼. The is a two-time defending champion in the outdoor triple jump.

Andrew Lambert has the best high jump in the OVC this season at 6-7 ½ Jordan Willi, the indoor pole vault champion, has the second best vault at 14-6.

Southeast has the top three discus throwers in the OVC. Brandon Myer has the top throw of 167-5 with Jay Heddell, two-time defending champion is second at 164-8 and Daniel Jones third at 159-2. Heddell, this year's indoor and last year's outdoor champion in the shot put, has the best throw this season at 55-2 ¾ while Myer, the 2000 and 2001 OVC champion, is second at 55-2.

On the track, Jared Tanz has the best time in the 800 this season with a 1:55.59 while Chad Sierman has the OVC 's best time in the steeplechase at 9:18.50.