Jenkins shatters her own Southeast discus record

The impressive freshman season for Southeast Missouri State University track athlete Heather Jenkins reached new heights over the weekend.

Jenkins shattered her own school record in the discus during the Georgia Tech Invitational with a throw of 173 feet, 11 inches to provisionally qualify for the NCAA Championships.

A former standout at Cape Girardeau Central High School, Jenkins previously set the Southeast record with a 162-9 during the Ohio Valley Conference Championship this month. She won the discus and shot put at the OVC meet.

Jenkins' performance at Georgia Tech ranks 18th in Division I this year and likely assures her a spot in the NCAA Championships May 30 in Baton Rouge, La. The official announcement of the NCAA field will be Thursday night.

"Heather has had an outstanding freshman year and I feel sure she will be in the NCAA field," Southeast coach Joey Haines said.

Two other Southeast athletes, Jay Heddell (shot put) and Jaret Willi (pole vault), also met the NCAA's provisional qualifying standard but will probably not make the final cut for the NCAA meet.

Uzoaru likely qualified

Marisa Uzoaru, another former Central track star, is also virtually assured of competing in next week's NCAA meet.

Uzoaru, who attends Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, is tied for the nation's 11th-best Division I performance in the high jump.