Redhawks' track season ends at NCAA regional

The Southeast Missouri State track and field program ended its season last weekend after falling short of any national qualifying performances.

Southeast had six athletes compete in nine events at the NCAA West Regional in Austin, Texas. The top 12 in each event qualified for the national meet.

Senior javelin thrower Samantha Espiricueta came the closest among Southeast's regional entries as she advanced to the finals and finished 14th. The best throw for last year's national qualifier was 154 feet 8 inches.

Senior Brandon Colbert competed in three events, failing to reach the finals in each one. He was 20th in the shot put (55-3 3/4), 24th in the hammer throw (192-9) and 24th in the discus (192-9).

Senior Ashley Brewer placed 35th in the discus (145-9) after failing to make the finals.

On the track, junior Rachel Kahle from Jackson High School finished sixth in her quarterfinal heat of the 200 meters with a time of 24.70 seconds. That placed her 38th overall.

Senior Chris Gill finished sixth in his heat of the 400 quarterfinals (47.40). That time placed him 33rd overall.

Senior Juli Koenegstein was 40th in the 3,000 steeplechase (11:03.48).

Southeast eighth in OVC

Southeast finished eighth in the OVC Commissioner's Cup for the 2009-10 school year. The award is a symbol of overall athletic excellence in conference-sponsored championships.

Eastern Illinois was first with 100.5 points, seven more than Murray State. Eastern Illinois had first-place finishes in football, women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field and men's and women's outdoor track and field.

Eastern Kentucky was third (92), followed by Morehead State (88), Jacksonville State (84), Tennessee Tech (76), Austin Peay (74), Southeast (69.5), Tennessee- Martin (59.5) and Tennessee State (45).

-- From staff reports