Knippen earns OVC field honor

Southeast Missouri State's Brian Knippen was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Male Field Athlete of the Year for outdoor track and field on Wednesday, an award coach Joey Haines believes he richly deserved.

But Haines came away a bit miffed that his sensational sophomore sprinter, Miles Smith, did not won the OVC Male Track Athlete of the Year in voting by the league's head coaches.

Smith had earlier this year captured the league's indoor Male Track Athlete of the Year award -- and Haines believes he has performed just as well if not better during the outdoor season. Smith is ranked eighth nationally in the 400 meters after qualifying for indoor nationals in that event. He also excels in the 200 and on relays.

"Miles is the best athlete in the conference," Haines said. "I don't know if it was backlash, because we won so many indoors, but Miles deserved it."

Southeast won five of the OVC's six postseason awards during the indoor season, including Knippen claiming the Male Field Athlete of the Year.

Knippen, a senior transfer from Murray State, has made a major impact during his first and only season with the Redhawks. After winning the OVC indoor shot put title, he ranks first in the league outdoors in both the shot put and discus entering this weekend's conference meet in Clarksville, Tenn.

Knippen's best distances are 58-2 1/2 in the shot put and 168-8 in the discus. He has already qualified for the NCAA regionals in the shot put.

"We're real proud of Brian winning this award again. He sure deserves it. He's been the best thrower in the conference," Haines said. "He's fit in real well with our program, and after losing [former standout] Jay Heddell to graduation, Brian has really filled that spot well."

Eastern Kentucky senior sprinter Dallas Robinson, ranked first in the OVC in the 100 and 200, beat out Smith for Male Track Athlete of the Year.

Other OVC award winners were Eastern Kentucky senior sprinter Nichole Gibson (Female Track Athlete of the Year), Eastern Illinois senior jumper Ronesha Franklin (Female Field Athlete of the Year), Eastern Illinois jumper Tristan McKinnis (Male Freshman of the Year) and Tennessee State sprinter Dominique Ward (Female Freshman of the Year).