May 21, 2002

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Freshman discus thrower Heather Jenkins established a new Southeast Missouri State University school record in the discus and provisionally qualified for the NCAA championships with a winning throw of 173-feet 11-inches at the Georgia Tech Invitational.

The school record throw is the 18th best throw in NCAA Division I this season and all but assures Jenkins a spot in the championship field on May 30 in Baton Rouge, La. The official announcement of the field in every NCAA event will be at 9 p.m. on Thursday.

"Heather has had an outstanding freshman year and I feel sure she will be in the NCAA field when the announcement is posted Thursday night," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "Jaret Willi in the pole vault and Jay Heddell in the shot put were also provisional NCAA qualifiers, but they probably will not qualify for the NCAA finals."

Junior triple jumper Shelton Scott was also a winner at Georgia Tech but did not meet the NCAA qualifying standard.