The annual marquee track and field meet in the area, the All Sport Relays hosted by Southeast Missouri State University, begins today at the Abe Stuber Track and Field Complex with another competitive collegiate field on hand.

The 17th annual track and field event, which continues through Saturday, starts today at noon and picks up again Saturday at 11 a.m. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday morning at 10:30.

"We're excited and looking forward to the competition," said meet director and Southeast track coach Joey Haines. "Our athletes always compete well at home. People hate to come in here because our kids compete so well."

All Sport Body Quencher and the Marion (Ill.) Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company sponsor the meet, which features team titles for the men's division, women's division and a combined team title.

Last year, Southeast claimed the women's title and are again expected to be in the thick of things this weekend.

"The women's meet should be outstanding," Haines said. "Our women's team will be strong in the in the short and medium relays and should score well in the field events."

Haines expects five of his seven women's relay teams to be extremely competitive. The Otahkians top five relay teams consist of the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, sprint medley and distance medley relays.

Senior Yvonne Hente will be a key figure on five of the Otahkians' relay teams. Freshman Heather Keltner, the OVC's 400-meter indoor champ, will compete on four relay teams and freshman Natalie Talley three.

Junior Janelle Quigley will also compete in a few relays and has performed well of late in middle distance runs. Sophomore Tammy Wenkel returns as the defending 400-meter hurdles champ.

In the field events for Southeast, OVC long-jump champ Heather Denihan and Lutricia Purham in the shot put should also do well.

Among the 10 teams in the women's field, Missouri, Southern Illinois-Carbondale and Tennessee-Chattanooga are expected to challenge Southeast for the title.

"Missouri will have an outstanding relay team while Tennessee-Chattanooga will be strong in distance events," Haines said. "Southern Illinois has a well-balanced team that will score a lot of points."

The Southeast men won't likely figure into the championship race in the eight-team field, but several individuals in the field events should provide points.

Southeast senior Randy Johnson has been producing points in the javelin since he was a freshman at Southeast. Johnson, competing against Missouri All-American Darin Files in one of the most anticipated matchups this weekend, will be going for his fourth consecutive meet title in the javelin.

"Randy's hoping to close out his senior year with his fourth title," Haines said. "He's going to defend his championship, but Files will push him.

"Randy's never lost to (Files), but Randy's going to have his work cut out for him. It's going to be a tremendous battle."

Jon Riley, a two-time meet winner in the long jump, is back after red-shirting last season. He will also be a favorite in the triple jump.

Other Southeast men to watch for are junior Bryan Alfultis (shot/discus), senior Scott Tate (110 hurdles) and the 4x100 team of Neil Birchler, Tate, Ryan Steck and Derrick Brown.

Former Cape Central pole vaulters, freshman Jim Fox and junior Chris Moore are also hoping to pick up some points -- weather permitting. Due to a torrential downpour last year, the pole vault competition was canceled.

* Three Cape Central graduates, now competing for Mizzou, will make the return trip from Columbia.

Senior distance runner Mandy McCoy and freshman high jumper Elizabeth Kunz will make their outdoor debuts for the Lady Tigers this weekend. Jay Meystedt, nursing a back injury, will not compete in the high jump.

McCoy, Central's 1994 valedictorian, has received numerous academic All-Big Eight and All-Big 12 honors throughout her career. Kunz, a National Merit Scholarship winner, was an all-state high-jumper at Central.

Meystedt was a three-time state champion at Central.