May 3, 2002

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Day One of competition is complete in the 2002 Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

After five events, Southeast Missouri leads the women's division with 60 points, followed by defending champion Tennessee State (31), Austin Peay (30.50), Eastern Illinois (26), Morehead State (22), Tennessee Tech (12.50), Eastern Kentucky (9), Murray State (2) and Tennessee-Martin (2).

Defending champion Eastern Illinois leads the men's division with 67 points after the first day. Southeast Missouri is in second with 42, followed by Murray State (33), Tennessee State (24.50), Eastern Kentucky (18) and Morehead State (9.50).

Eastern Illinois javelin thrower Ron White set a new OVC record in the javelin with a heave of 258' 10.5". Southeast Missouri's Jaret Willi, competing in his first long jump competition of his collegiate career, took home the long jump crown with a jump of 23-2. Other individual men's champions were Eastern Illinois' Adam Marriott in the 10,000-meter run, Eastern Kentucky's Tyrone Walker in the high jump and Southeast Missouri's Jay Heddell in the shot put.

Austin Peay's Lauren Maul was a double-winner in day one, winning both the shot put and the high jump. Southeast Missouri's Courtney Haman defended her javelin title with a first-place throw of 141' 9". Morehead State's Karen Lutes defended her 10,000-meter title with a first-place time of 37:44.44. Southeast Missouri's Heather Jenkins won the shot put title.

Competition will continue at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Abe Stuber Track & Field complex. GoSoutheast.com will have live results of the competition.