Otahks' Jenkins, Haman win titles

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Helped in large part by standout performances from Central High School graduates Courtney Haman and Heather Jenkins, Southeast Missouri State University's women's track and field team got off to a big start Friday as the Ohio Valley Conference outdoor meet began.

Haman won both the javelin and high jump while Jenkins captured the shot put with a meet-record throw as the Otahkians claimed four of Friday's six finals events to pile up 84 points.

Defending champion and host Tennessee State is second with 37.5 points, followed by Eastern Kentucky (34), Eastern Illinois (26), Murray State (16.5), Austin Peay (16), Morehead State (12) and Tennessee Tech (8).

On the men's side, Southeast won two events and is in second place with 60 points. Six-time defending champion Eastern Illinois is first with 71.3 points. After Southeast are Tennessee State (44), Murray State (40.3), Eastern Kentucky (12) and Morehead State (6.3).

Haman won her third straight OVC javelin title with a throw of 143 feet 7 inches and she captured her first conference championship in the high jump with a school-record 5-9 that qualified her for the NCAA regionals. She had already been qualified in the javelin.

Jenkins, who won both the shot put and discus last year as a freshman, fired off a 50-5 1/2 in the shot put Friday that is the school's second-best mark ever. Jenkins, who already holds the school discus record, will be favored to win that event today. She is also among several Southeast athletes who have already met regional qualifying standards as she has made it in the shot put and discus.

The Otahkians' other winner Friday was Kris Woolf, who captured the 10,000-meters in 39.17.32.

Finishing second for the Otahkians were Colleen Burke in the 3,000 steeplechase (11:24.15) and Meleisa Greene in the long jump (18-7).

Other top-eight finishers for the Otahkians were by Anna Verseman (3rd steeplechase, 11:27.88), Megan Youse (3rd shot put, 42-11 3/4), Kaci Pilcher (4th steeplechase, 11:37.70), Nichole Portell (5th shot put, 41-5 1/4), Jackson product Lindsey Meyr (6th long jump, 18-0 1/2), Ashley Brinegar (6th 10,000, 41:12.41) and Emily Zimmerman (8th 10,000, 41:30.96).

For Southeast's men, Chad Sierman won the 3,000 steeplechase in a regional qualifying time of 9:08.70 and Brandon Myer captured his third OVC shot put title with a throw of 55-6 1/4. Jay Heddell was second in the shot put (55-1).

Also finishing in the top eight for the Indians were Shelton Scott (3rd long jump, 22-10 1/2), Sikeston product Andrew Lambert (3rd high jump, 6-5), Kelly product James Brainer (5th javelin, 166-5), Jeremy Benberry (5th shot put, 50-2), Brian Whitehead (5th steeplechase, 9:43.71), Daniel Jones (6th shot put, 48-7 1/4, 7th javelin, 158-0), Gabe Lutes (7th 10,000, 33:50.27) and Perryville product Shawn Statler (8th long jump, 21-4).

The meet concludes today, with events beginning at 10 a.m.

Softball plays at EKU

Southeast's softball team ends the regular season this weekend with a three-game series at Eastern Kentucky. There will be a noon doubleheader today and a noon single game Sunday.

The Otahkians (14-25, 10-7) are in fourth place in the OVC while the preseason league favorite Colonels (25-15, 11-6) are second, but Southeast can still finish second if it wins at least two of three from EKU.

Kelly Birk continues to lead the Otahkians' offensively with a .330 batting average while Brooke Nett is at .315. Jessica Hunter tops the pitching staff with a 3.24 earned-run average, although her record is just 5-9.

Southeast will compete in the OVC Tournament beginning Thursday in Cookeville, Tenn., with regular-season conference champion Tennessee Tech serving as host.

-- From staff reports