OTAHKIANS STRIVE FOR 4TH STRAIGHT OVC TITLE

Southeast Missouri State University's women's track and field team will look to continue its recent Ohio Valley Conference dominance this weekend.

The Otahkians will be favored to repeat their title when the OVC Outdoor Championships are contested today and Saturday on the campus of Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tenn.

Overall, the Otahkians have won three straight OVC titles, including the 1997 indoor and outdoor crowns and the 1998 indoor championship.

Southeast's men, third at the OVC indoor this year, have their sights set on a second-place finish this weekend.

"I feel good about our women repeating as OVC champions and I think our men have a shot at finishing as high as second," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "Eastern Kentucky and Middle Tennessee will be our top challengers in the women's meet. Eastern Illinois should win the men's meet with us, Middle Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky battling for second place."

Southeast's women will be especially strong in the sprints and field events, led by senior Yvonne Hente, who is the defending OVC outdoor champion at 400-meters.

Hente will run the 200 and 400 this weekend and she will also compete on the Otahkians' favored 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams.

The Otahkians' other defending OVC champion is Heather Denihan in the long jump. She also won the OVC indoor long jump title.

Natalie Talley, the OVC indoor 55-meter champion, will run the 100 and 200 while Heather Keltner, the OVC indoor 400 champion, will run the 200 and 400.

Standout middle distance runner Tammy Wenkel, the OVC indoor 800 champion, will face a strong challenge from Eastern Kentucky All-American Jamie King, who will also challenge Southeast's Janelle Quigley in the 1,500.

Star freshman thrower Lutricia Purham will battle Shelly Johnson of Middle Tennessee in the shot put while Jennifer Phillips will be favored in the javelin and should score high in the shot and discus.

Freshman triple jumper Renee Bergmeier has the best jump in the OVC this season.

Southeast's men will rely on strength and depth in the field events.

Javelin thrower Randy Johnson is the three-time defending OVC champion who has outdistanced all other OVC javelin throwers by 20 feet this season.

Bryan Alfultis has the OVC's second-best javelin throw and he has the best discus and second-best shot put performances this year.

Jon Riley, the 1996 OVC long and triple jump champion, will again be favored in his specialties.

Three Southeast pole vaulters will be among the favorites. Jim Fox and Chris Moore have both cleared 15-6 this spring while Jaret Willi has cleared 15 feet.

Sprinters Derrick Brown and Ryan Steck are expected to provide valuable points along with hurdlers Glen Haley and Scott Tate.