Redhawks women repeat as champs

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- While a sweep was not in the cards for Southeast Missouri State University's track and field squads, the women's team did capture its second straight Ohio Valley Conference indoor championship Saturday at Eastern Illinois University.

Southeast's men led much of the meet but eventually fell to defending champion Eastern Illinois, which has won four straight indoor titles.

"On the men's side, we were disappointed we didn't win," Southeast coach Joey Haines said. "We had a moral victory, but that's not what we came here for."

Southeast's women won easily with a total of 155 points. Eastern Illinois finished second with 119.5.

Redhawks freshman Kathy Coleman was the OVC Female Athlete of the Championship after picking up wins in the 60-meter dash and triple jump on Saturday. Coleman also finished fifth in the 60 hurdles and second in the long jump on Friday.

The women should be even stronger next year with continued development from the youngsters and the return of top thrower Heather Jenkins, who is redshirting this year.

"This was a year if anybody was going to beat us, they needed to," Haines said.

Brooke Woodruff won the 800, Linsdsay Zeiler won the mile, and Michele Jett set a Southeast record in the pole vault and finished second.

The Southeast men's team had the lead with two events remaining. Eastern Illinois finished 1-2-3 in the triple jump, though, to claim the OVC crown. Eastern Illinois finished with 189 points to Southeast's 175.

"That's an area we have to get better in if we're going to win outdoors," Haines said of the triple jump.

Event winners for the men on Saturday included Miles Smith in the 400, Brian Knippen in the shot put and the 1,600 relay squad of Smith, Walter Washington, Chaz Brown and Alonzo Nelson.

The 1,600 relay team set an OVC record.

"It's an outstanding bunch," Haines said. "At the conference meet, you usually don't run fast because you have to run your individual races before it comes around."

Brown finished second in the 800, Washington finished second in the 400, Nelson was second in the 60 hurdles and Smith was second in the 200.

Southeast will complete the indoor regular season next weekend at Notre Dame.

Southeast results

Women

60 hurdles -- 5, Kathy Coleman, 8.98.

60 dash -- 1, Coleman, 7.62.

200 -- 4, Donniece Parrish, 25.31.

400 -- 4, LaQuita Andrews, 58.45.

800 -- 1, Brooke Woodruff, 2:17.10; 3, Taryn Phillips, 2:17.95.

Mile -- 1, Lindsay Zeiler, 5:06.09.

3,000 -- 3, Jennifer Caywood, 10:20.25; 4, Zeiler, 10:22.43.

1,600 relay -- 2, Southeast (Andrews, Juanita Coleman, Woodruff, Parrish), 3:54.29.

Triple jump -- 1, Coleman, 40-4 3/4; 2, Heather West, 39-8.

Pole vault -- 2, Michele Jett, 11-11 3/4; 5, Megan Rosenkoetter, 10-11 3/4.

Shot put -- 3, Nichole Portell, 42-6 1/4.

Men

60 hurdles -- 2, Alonzo Nelson, 8.29.

60 dash -- 3, Tim Jefferson, 6.96.

200 -- 2, Miles Smith, 22.04; 4, Christopher Poindexter, 22.53, 5, Jefferson, 22.55.

400 -- 1, Smith, 48.87; 2, Walter Washington, 48.82; 4, Poindexter, 50.22.

800 -- 2, Chaz Brown, 1:53.39.

3,000 -- 4, Brian Whitehead, 8:47.17.

1,600 relay -- 1, Southeast (Smith, Washington, Brown, Nelson), 3:17.82.

Triple jump -- 4, John Berry, 44-9 3/4.

Pole vault -- 4, Jordan Willi,14-7 1/4.

Shot put -- 1, Brian Knippen, 55-7 1/2; 5, Daniel Jones, 50-5 1/4.