Field day for throwers

Southeast Missouri State University track and field coach Joey Haines expected the field events to dominate the Redhawk Invitational on Saturday at the Student Recreation Center.

With the presence of Arkansas State's Candon Powell, the No. 2 ranked thrower in the country, in addition to Southeast's Brian Knippen, the favorite heading into next weekend's OVC Championship meet, the throwers did not disappoint.

Powell beat his own Student Recreation Center record in the weight throw with a toss of 68 feet 7 1/4 inch. The previous record was 61-9.5.

Southeast's Daniel Jones finished third behind Powell and Memphis' JD Erickson with a personal-best and school-record 56-10.

"It's exactly what I wanted today," Jones said. "I couldn't ask for anything better, I had a great series with three or four throws over 55 foot and then that 56-10 came at the right time."

Knippen took fourth in the weight throw, but got his revenge by topping the field in the shot with a best of 55-7.25 to edge Powell's 55-5.75.

Knippen said he was pleased with his practice throws, but despite the win was frustrated by his struggles during the shot competition.

"It's starting to come around," Knippen said. "I'm close. I want to land one that way; it's frustrating right now. I had some really big warmups, but I'm just having problems keeping them in right now."

Kathy Coleman continued her excellent freshman season with two wins and a second-place finish. Coleman not only won the long jump with a leap of 20-1.25, but the distance also is a NCAA provisional qualifier. Coleman won the 55-meter dash in 7.04 seconds and finished second to Bethel College's Ashley Davis in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.21.

"She had a good day," Haines said. "She'd been kind of hurting a little bit, but today she came back to the form we expect of her going into the conference. So we're really excited about that."

Coleman was one of the few Southeast track stars to compete at the Redhawk Invitational, as Haines rested many to prevent injury before the conference meet.

SOUTHEAST RESULTS

Men

Pole Vault - 1. Matt Jett 12-6

Weight Throw - 3. Jones 56-10; 4. Knippen 52-6

High Jump - 3. Ryan Doty 6-2

Long Jump - 3. John Berry 21-2.25

Shot Put - 1. Knippen 55-7.25

Mile - 1. Danny Stults; 2. Kirk Nesbit; 3. Brad DeMattei

400 - 2. Seth Schuster 53.8

55 - 1. Tim Jefferson 6.48; 3. Alonzo Nelson 6.61

55 Hurdles - 1. David Herman 7.66; 2. Nelson 7.7

800 - 2. Tom Kinder 2:03.9

200 - 1. Christopher Poindexter 22.87

3,000 - 1. Brian Whitehead 8:55.6; 2. Brandon Karcher 9:07; 4. Gabe Lutes 9:10.7

Women

Pole Vault - 1. Michelle Jett 10-6; 2. Megan Rosenkoetter 10

Weight Throw - 3. Nichole Portell 49-8.75

Long Jump - 1. Coleman 20-1.25; 2. Lindsey Meyr 18-7.5; 5. Kia White 17-7

Shot Put - 2. Portell 41-2

Triple Jump - 2. Heather West 37-4.5; 3. White 37-3.5

Mile - 1. Jen Burke 5:14.8; 2. Kris Woolf 5:17; 3. Jen Caywood 5:20.5

55 - 1. Coleman 7.04; 4. Donnice Parrish 7.24

55 Hurdles - 2. Coleman 8.21; 5. Hearne 9.73

800 - 3. Woolf 2:29.4