Indian hurdler qualifies for regional meet at the Georgia Tech

Southeast Missouri State University's track and field program added another regional qualifier at the Georgia Tech Invitational held Friday and Saturday in Atlanta, Ga.

Sophomore Alonzo Nelson qualified for the NCAA regional meet in Baton Rouge, La., late this month by running 51.99 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles. He finished 15th.

Jay Heddell, who has already qualified in the shot put and discus, placed third in the shot put (56-4) and 11th in the discus (159-2).

The 1,600 relay team ran a seasonal best time (3:11.71) to finish seventh. On that group were Nelson, Chaz Brown, Jared Tanz and Miles Smith. The 400 relay team of Jon Jefferson, Tim Jefferson, Smith and Seth Schuster also ran a seasonal best time (40.94) to place 15th.

On the women's side, Heather Jenkins won the discus (157-0) and was eighth in the shot put (47-1 1/2). Megan Youse placed fourth in the discus (150-9).

Nyisha Porter ran a seasonal best in the 200 (24.44) to finish 25th while the 400 relay team of Natasha Fortenberry, Porter, LaQuita Andrews and Rose Fulton also ran a seasonal best (45.91) and placed eighth.

Others already qualified for the regionals from Southeast are Jenkins in the shot put and discus; Brooke Woodruff in the 800; Lindsay Zeiler in the 1,500; Michele Jett in the pole vault; Meleisa Green in the long jump; the women's 400 relay; Smith in the 200 and 400; and the men's 1,600 relay.

OVC all-tournament teamSoutheast softball players Alana Bagby-Leonard and Lindsay Pickering were named to the Ohio Valley Conference all-tournament team over the weekend.

Bagby-Leonard, a senior, batted .333 in the tournament with two home runs and five RBIs. Pickering, a freshman, hit .500 in the tourney.

The Otahkians went 1-2 in the tournament and finished the season 16-36. Host Eastern Kentucky captured the title.

-- From staff reports