May 6, 2006

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State claimed both the men's and women's championships at the Ohio Valley Conference Track & Field Championships. The men's title came down to the final event but the Redhawks won the 4 X 400-meter relay to claim their second straight outdoor title.

Going into the final event, Southeast Missouri and Eastern Illinois were tied 199-199 but the team of Walter Washington, Chris Poindexter, Alonzo Nelson and Miles Smith won the final relay to give Southeast the win 209 to 205. Tennessee State was third with 129 followed by Morehead State 72, Eastern Kentucky 60, Samford 54 and Murray State 4.

Southeast got individual wins from Smith in the 400-meters and Nelson in the 400-meter hurdles.

Kevin McNab who won the steeplechase on Friday came back to place third in the 1500 and second in the 5000. His second place finish in the 5k could have been pivotal in the team championship race. Eastern Illinois had a nine-point lead going into the 5k but with McNab placing second and Kirk Nesbit placing fourth, the Redhawks tied the score going into the final relay event.

The women won their fourth straight outdoor title by tallying 149.5 points to outdistance Jacksonville State with 115.5. Eastern Illinois was third with 93, Samford had 91, Eastern Kentucky 85, Tennessee State 82, Austin Peay 64, Murray State 40, Tennessee Tech 12 and Morehead State 8.

Heather Jenkins led the way for the Redhawks women with wins in both the shot put and discus. Other Redhawks winners for the women included Lindsay Zeiler in the 1500, Michele Jett in the pole vault and Lindsay Hearne in the javelin.

Eboni Mathews of Jacksonville State was selected as the Female Athlete of the Championship with wins in the 200 and 400-meters. Buford Williams of Tennessee State was the Male Athlete of the Championship with wins in the high jump and long jump along with sixth place finish in the javelin.

Joey Haines of Southeast Missouri State was selected as the men's and women's OVC Track Coach of the Year.

Complete results can be found at www.alltraxtiming.com.