SE TO TAKE A RUN AT OVC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Southeast Missouri State University's women's track and field team will be shooting for the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championship this weekend at Middle Tennessee State in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The Southeast men's squad, slowed by numerous injuries, will be shooting for a third-place finish in the meet that will be held Saturday and Sunday.

"If our women just go out and do what they are capable of doing, we have a good chance to win," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "If sprinter Natalie Talley, who has been bothered by a hamstring injury, is ready to go, we should be in good shape. If she is not able to run, it will be a very close competition."

Haines believes that Southeast, Eastern Kentucky and Middle Tennessee will all make strong bids for the women's title.

Southeast's women will be led by Heather Keltner, the two-time defending OVC indoor champion in both the 200-meters and 400-meters. She will again be favored in those events and will also run on the favored mile relay team.

Keltner has provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 400 with a time of 55.45 seconds. Her top time in the 200 is 24.88.

Lutricia Purham will defend her OVC indoor title in the shot put. She has a season best of 50 feet 4 inches, which is also a provisional NCAA qualifying mark.

Amy Arteme, the OVC cross country champion, will run both the 3,000 and 5,000, along with Leslie McNamara.

Senior standout Tammy Wenkel will run both the 800 and mile.

In addition to Keltner, also competing on the mile relay squad are Kim Stewart, Wenkel and Hannah Stuckenschneider.

Haines expects Eastern Illinois and Middle Tennessee to battle for the men's team title, with Southeast and Eastern Kentucky in a battle for third.

"We just have too many people out with injuries to make a run at the title, but we should still have some good performances that will put us in a position to place at least third," Haines said.

Jim Fox, a past OVC indoor pole vault champion, has the best vault in the OVC this season as he has cleared 16 feet.

Brandon Myer has the top shot put in the OVC this year with a throw of 53 feet while high jumpers Garvin Ambrose and Adrian Barnhill are both near the top. Ambrose has cleared 6-9 3/4 this season while Barnhill has gone 6-8.

SE gymnastics hits the road

The Southeast Missouri State University gymnastics team will compete in back-to-back meets on Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, Southeast will travel to Illinois-Chicago for a 7 p.m. meet. Southeast will then battle in the Michigan State Invitational on Sunday at 7 p.m. The Invitational will include Michigan State, Bowling Green and New Hampshire.