Distance runners Burke, Woolf named to academic all-district

Distance runners Jennifer Burke and Kris Woolf of Southeast Missouri State University have been selected for the 2004 Academic All-District VII women's cross country/track and field team.

Burke, a senior, has a 4.0 cumulative grade point average in health management while Woolf, a junior, has a 4.0 GPA in accounting. They were both members of the Southeast women's track team that won the Ohio Valley Conference indoor and outdoor championships this season.

Burke and Woolf now are eligible for the Academic All-America team.

"It is a tremendous accomplishment for both Jennifer and Kris to be named to the Academic All-District team," Southeast coach Joey Haines said. "To maintain a 4.0 cumulative grade point average while competing at the highest level in track and field is truly amazing."

Southeast gymnasts land recruit

Southeast gymnastics coach Tom Farden recently signed Danyelle Aber, from Gurnee, Ill., to a national letter of intent.

As captain of her high school team, Aber was one of the top prep gymnasts in the country. She recently placed first on vault in the National High School All-Star Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas. Her Illinois squad won the team competition at the national meet.

Aber also won a high school state title on vault while carrying a 3.9 grade point average.

"Danyelle is a great student and her power on vault and floor should really help our team next year," Farden said. "I am extremely pleased that she chose to join our Southeast gymnastics family."

EKU, Samford win OVC all-sports award

Eastern Kentucky won the men's title and shared the women's crown with Samford in the OVC's all-sports standings that symbolize overall athletic excellence in conference-sponsored championships during the 2003-04 season.

EKU's men finished among the OVC's top four teams in seven of eight championship sports. Eastern Illinois and Jacksonville State tied for second.

On the women's side, EKU won OVC titles in cross country and softball while Samford prevailed in soccer and tennis.

Southeast's women were third after winning both the indoor and outdoor track titles. Southeast's men finished seventh.

--From staff reports