Area digest

Southeast track hires assistant

New Southeast Missouri State track and field coach Eric Crumpecker has announced the hiring of Tara Zapata as assistant coach for sprinters and hurdlers.

Zapata, an assistant at Arkansas-Little Rock last season, is a graduate of Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., where she was an All-American sprinter. Zapata, originally from New York City, also served for two years as an assistant at Essex County College in New Jersey.

"We are fortunate to be able to attract someone with the experience and coaching success that Zapata has achieved," Crumpecker said in a release.

Zapata will be one of two full-time assistants with the track team. The distance and cross country assistant is expected to be announced next week.

Ervin records hole in one

Jackson's Al Ervin scored his first career hole in one on hole No. 18 at Kimbeland Country Club.

Ervin used an 8-iron to ace the 128-yard hole.

Larry Freese witnessed the shot.

Jones earns medalist honors

Marlena Jones finished as the medalist at the Cape Girardeau Country Club's Women's Golf Association's weekly outing.

Mary Ann Vogelsang took first place, followed by Jones.

Gators swimmers enjoy success

Cape Girardeau's Caleb Coots won the 2-mile open water championship at the USA Swimming's Central MegaZone meet in Indianapolis.

Coots competed in the 15 to 18 division. He needed just over 36 minutes to complete the course.

In the 13 and 14 division, Ramsey Scott took 13th in the 1.5-mile swim.

At the Ozark Championships, Gabby Vieira captured the high point award in the girls 9 and 10 division. She was voted the outstanding athlete of the meet by coaches and officials.

Austin Hobbs was second in the boys 9 and 10, while David Welker took second in the boys 15 and over.

The Gators finished seventh with 881 points. Parkway Swim Club won the meet with 4,401 points.

Kurre medalist at Chip A Ways event

Margie Kurre was medalist at the Chip A Ways weekly event at Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course.

Jeana Koch won the B flight, while Kathy Kapfer won the play of the day. Dottie Gill had the low-putt total.

Balsman scores hole in one

Jackson's A.J. Balsman recorded his first career hole in one on hole No. 8 at Kimbeland Country Club.

He used a 6-iron on the 171-yard hole.

Taylor McDowell, Payne Birk and Josh Wheeler witnessed the shot.

The shot came during the Jackson alumni tournament, and Balsman received a $10,000 cash prize for his shot.

-- From staff reports