Track team divided for Drake, Murray St. meets

Eight members of the Southeast Missouri State University women's track team and four members of the men's squad will compete in the Drake Relays today and Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa.

Drake officials say a record 9,359 athletes representing 781 teams will participate in the 94th running of the Drake Relays that should attract a sellout crowd of more than 18,000 at Drake Stadium on Saturday.

Southeast's women have been accepted in seven events. Individual entries for the Otahkians are Laura VanHoevelaak in the 400-meter hurdles, Lyndsey Stevenson in the 100 hurdles, Courtney Haman in the javelin and Heather Jenkins in the discus and shot put.

The Otahkians also will run in the 1,600 relay and the sprint medley relay. VanHoevelaak, LaQuita Andrews, Hannah Stuckenschneider and Brooke Woodruff will be on the 1,600 team, while Rose Fulton will join Andrews, Stuckenschneider and Woodruff on the sprint medley squad.

Southeast's men will have Jay Heddell and Brandon Myer in the shot put and discus, Shelton Scott in the triple jump and David Herman in the 110 hurdles.

"Our athletes always look forward to the Drake Relays," Southeast coach Joey Haines said. "I'm looking forward to some great performances if the weather cooperates."

The weather did not cooperate at last weekend's Kansas Relays, but Southeast still had several outstanding performances that included wins from Stuckenschneider in the 400 and Meleisa Greene in the long jump.

Also, Haman had a career-best throw of 153 feet, 9 inches to rank second on the all-time Southeast javelin.

Greene and several other members of the Southeast men's and women's teams will compete Saturday in an invitational meet at Murray State.

Tennis team begins OVC meet today in Nashville

Southeast's women's tennis squad is seeded seventh heading into the eight-team OVC Tournament today through Sunday in Nashville, Tenn.

The Otahkians (3-9, 2-5 OVC) will play No. 2 seed Murray State (7-1, 10-10) at 1:30 p.m. today. The Racers beat the Otahkians 7-0 last week.

"The team is excited and looking forward to the tournament," Southeast coach Mike Stevens said. "The improvement in each player's games this year has been tremendous."

Tennessee Tech is seeded first followed by Murray State, Morehead State, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee-Martin, Southeast and Austin Peay.

The tournament is not true double-elimination, but there is a consolation bracket played to seventh place so every team is guaranteed three matches.

-- From staff reports