Otahkians will attempt to repeat as champs

Southeast Missouri State University track and field coach Joey Haines fully expects his women's team to capture its second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference outdoor title and its third straight OVC championship overall.

But, for the first time in a while, Haines also expects Southeast's men's squad to challenge for a conference crown when the league's outdoor meet takes place this weekend at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. Action begins at 2 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday.

"Eastern Illinois is the heavy favorite, but we're going to get after them," Haines said. "We've got a lot of people who are going to do well and it's going to be a battle."

Eastern Illinois has won the past seven OVC outdoor titles, including last year when it romped past runner-up Southeast. The Indians' only two outdoor championships came in 1995 and 1996. They claimed their lone indoor title in 1996. Southeast was a distant second during this year's indoor meet.

"We're going to the meet to try and win, not just trying to get second, like we've done in the past," Haines said. "We have the people. We can score enough points to win. But we can't control what Eastern Illinois does. This isn't like football. We can't block and tackle them.

"We just have to be very good, and if they score more points, then they're the OVC champions. But until they do, we're going after them."

Said senior Jay Heddell, who will shoot for his fourth straight discus title. "This is the first time since I've been here that coach says we honestly have a shot to win the OVC. I've seen the girls do it, how much fun they've had and how much it's helped build team unity, and it would be great for us to do it."

Other defending men's champions for Southeast are sophomore Jordan Willi in the pole vault and senior Chad Sierman in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Willi has also won the past two OVC indoor pole vault titles.

Southeast women won OVC indoor meetOn the women's side, Southeast comfortably won last year's OVC outdoor meet and also breezed to the conference indoor title earlier this year. Even though the Otahkians have been battling some injuries, Haines expects them to repeat.

"We're a little beat up, but everybody is. It's a long season," said Haines, whose women's squad will be shooting for its 10th OVC title, including six outdoors. "Our strong point is we're really good across the board. We're not depending on one group to win the OVC, while other teams in the conference are strong in one particular group."

Junior sensation Heather Jenkins, a Central High School graduate, will look to continue her OVC dominance as she shoots for her third straight discus and shot put titles. She was the league's co-female athlete of the year last season.

Jenkins also won two titles during this year's OVC indoor meet, when she was again the co-female athlete of the year, and has overall won eight conference titles so far. She has already qualified for the NCAA regionals in the discus, shot put and hammer throw.

"Heather just continues having a tremendous career," Haines said.

Sophomore Brooke Woodruff will look to repeat as 800-meter champion. She has also won the past two indoor titles.

Other returning champions for the Otahkians are junior Kris Woolf in the 10,000-meters and sophomore Michele Jett in the pole vault. Jett also captured this year's indoor title.

Southeast has already qualified several athletes for regionals and all OVC champions earn automatic berths.