Aug. 8, 2008

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State University track and field coach Eric Crumpecker has announced the hiring of Tara Zapata as assistant coach for sprinters and hurdlers.

Zapata, an assistant coach at Arkansas-Little Rock last season, is a graduate of Lincoln University in Jefferson City where she was an All-American sprinter. Zapata, originally from New York City, also served for two years as an assistant coach at Essex County College in Newark, New Jersey.

At Essex, she coached 16 national champions and 14 All-Americans. The 2007 ECC women's team won the NJCAA Division I national championship.

"We are fortunate to be able to attract someone with the experience and coaching success that Zapata has achieved," said Crumpecker. "She will coach both the men's and women's sprinters and hurdlers at Southeast."

Zapata will be one of two full time assistant coaches with the track team. The distance and cross country assistant is expected to be announced next week.