Dec. 6, 2001

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Southeast Missouri State University men's and women's indoor track teams will open the 2001-2002 season with a meet at Arkansas State on Saturday.

Teams entered in the meet at Jonesboro, Ark. include Arkansas State, Memphis, Jackson State, Alabama State and Southeast Missouri.

"This is a good opening meet for us," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "For everybody but the cross country runners this is a meet they have been getting ready for since the start of school. I'm excited about both our men's and women's teams because we have good talent and we are getting great senior leadership."

Saturday's meet will mark the debut of a number of talented Southeast freshman performers and Haines is eager to see how they perform. "We want the freshman to do well, but the important thing is to just get that first meet under their belt. Until they compete in that first meet they really don't feel like college track athletes."

Some of the top Southeast entries will include Jay Heddell in the shot put and weight throw, Jaret Willi in the pole vault, Shelton Scott in the long jump and triple jump, Jason Campbell in the 400 and Glenn Haley in the hurdles. For the Southeast women, top entries will include Kaci Pilcher in the 800, Hannah Stuckenschneider and Laura VanHoevelaak in the 400, Amy Arteme in the 5,000 and redshirt freshman Laquita Andrews in the sprints.

"Our athletes are physically ready and mentally eager, we should have a good outing," Haines said.