Koenegstein garners track honors

Southeast Missouri State distance runner Juli Koenegstein recently was named to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic track and field team.

Koenegstein, who has one year of track eligibility remaining, qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional in the 3,000-meter steeplechase this year. It marked her second NCAA regional appearance in the event.

Koenegstein, also a standout on the Southeast cross country team, owns the school record in the steeplechase. She is a two-time Ohio Valley Conference steeplechase champion.

In the classroom, Koenegstein recorded a 3.812 grade-point average during the 2008-09 academic year. She holds a 3.684 cumulative GPA while majoring in family consumer science education.

Koenegstein is a seven-time member of the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll (three for cross country, four for track) as well as a four-time Southeast Scholar Athlete.

Koenegstein was one of only two OVC track athletes to make the USTFCCCA All-Academic team.

Softball signs three

Southeast softball coach Lana Richmond recently announced the signing of three players to national letters of intent for the 2010 season.

Joining the program will be incoming freshmen Brittaney Gonsoulin and HaLeigh Willis, along with junior college transfer Melissa Walker.

Walker, an outfielder, played this year at Chipola Junior College after playing her freshman season at North Florida Community College under current Southeast assistant Jeff Dabney.

Walker batted .310, stole 29 bases and did not commit an error in her juco career.

Gonsoulin, from Lockport, Ill., played first base, third base and the outfield in high school. She batted .373 with eight home runs during her prep career. She was ranked the No. 1 third baseman in the Chicagoland area as a senior.

Willis is a utility player from Brentwood, Calif., who helped her high school team become the first squad in California Interscholastic Federation history to win a sectional championship in its first year of varsity competition.

The three join Marissa Sanders, a first baseman from St. Clair, Mo., who signed during the early period in November, to form Southeast's recruiting class for the 2010 season.

-- From staff reports