Nine Redhawks to compete at regional

The Southeast Missouri State track and field program has already had an impressive year, with the men and women both recently winning Ohio Valley Conference outdoor championships after the women also claimed the league's indoor title.

But the season is far from over for nine Southeast athletes who will participate in the NCAA Mideast Regional in Knoxville, Tenn. Competition is set for today and Saturday on the University of Tennessee campus.

The top five finishers in every individual event from each of the four regionals across the nation -- and the top three in relay events -- qualify for the NCAA Championships, plus eight more at-large qualifiers in each event (five in relays) will come from the top marks turned in nationally this season, providing those athletes reach the finals at regionals.

To make it to regionals, athletes either had to meet qualifying standards during the season or win conference titles.

"It's what all the team sports go to, basketball, baseball, they don't go to the NCAA finals, they go to a regional first. That's what these people have accomplished," Southeast coach Joey Haines said. "It means you've had a very good season, and it's a nice reward for the athletes.

"The Mideast Regional is the toughest regional in the nation, and if you get through it, you've earned it, but we have several athletes capable of advancing to the NCAA Championships [in Sacramento, Calif. June 8 through 10]."

Southeast qualified for the national meet last year in three events, led by junior 400-meter sensation Miles Smith, who earned a gold medal as part of the victorious U.S. 1,600-meter relay team during last summer's World Championships.

Smith, who was fifth in the 400 at the 2005 NCAA finals after winning the Mideast Regional, has the nation's seventh-fastest time this season, 45.74 seconds.

Smith, ranked fourth in the Mideast Region, is assured of qualifying for nationals as long as he reaches the regional finals because of his high national ranking.

"Miles is real confident right now," Haines said. "He feels real good about things."

Smith missed several weeks of the season while he nursed a sore hamstring, which probably prevented him from climbing up the rankings. But he said he's ready to turn it on.

"I haven't really gotten to run in any of the good weather, but I'm ready to run some really good times," Smith said.

Nelson to run in hurdles

Senior Alonzo Nelson will attempt to return to nationals in the 400 hurdles. He earned an at-large berth last year after finishing seventh in the regional. Haines said Nelson could get in that way again, and he is also a threat to place in the top five this weekend. Nelson's top time of 51.02 seconds ranks him 20th nationally and fifth in the Mideast Region.

"I think Alonzo is ready to run fast," Haines said.

Said Nelson, "I'm very excited. I want to be an All-American this year. That's my goal."

Also looking for a repeat appearance in the national meet is Southeast's 1,600 relay team that made it as an at-large entry last year after placing sixth at the regional.

Smith anchors the unit that includes senior Walt Washington, sophomore Chris Poindexter and Nelson. Washington is the only new runner from last year's relay group.

This season, the 1,600 quartet's top time of 3:11.40 is ranked 12th in the region.

"Last year we did our best time at the regional and that will happen this year also," Haines said. "Last year we had to peak earlier just to make the regionals. This year we knew we would win the OVC to get a berth, so we haven't had to run our fastest time yet. I think our best is still to come."

While Smith, Nelson and the 1,600 relay appear to have the best chances of making it to nationals, Haines isn't discounting several of Southeast's other regional entries.

On the men's side, sophomore Kevin McNab (3,000 steeplechase), sophomore John Berry (long jump) and freshman Bilal Hameed (triple jump) will all compete.

Hameed has the top regional ranking, 14th, while Berry is 24th and McNab 25th.

"We're not counting out Kevin. He's had a really good year," Haines said. "John has to get a bigger jump, but he's come a long way. He came to us as a true walk-on and was just a mediocre high school jumper.

"Bilal is capable of going far enough to have a shot. He'll make it some day, if not this year. He was a big-time recruit for us."

Added Haines: "The big thing about those three is they're gaining great experience."

Washington also qualified in the 400, but will skip that event to concentrate on the relay.

"Realistically, he wouldn't have a shot at getting to nationals, and we want him as fresh as possible for the relay," Haines said.

Southeast's women will be represented by senior Heather Jenkins (discus) and junior Lindsay Zeiler (1,500).

Jenkins' best throw of 166 feet is ranked 45th nationally and eighth in the region. She also qualified in the shot put but will concentrate solely on the discus, her best event.

"Heather has to throw further to have a shot, but she's capable," Haines said. "Lindsay {ranked 26th regionally} was a regional finalist two years ago but she was hurt last year.

"We're not counting either of them out, but they'll have to do it at the regional, their marks aren't good enough to get in through at-large."

Also qualifying for the regional by winning OVC titles were senior Michele Jett (pole vault) and sophomore Lindsay Hearne (javelin), but they won't compete.

"Realistically, they would have to do so much better than what they've ever done to even have a shot," Haines said. "They would have had to continue training for the last few weeks.

"Both of them, if they had wanted to go, we would have taken them, but this way they can get started with their summer, which is what they wanted to do. This is really Lindsay's first full year to throw the javelin and she'll hopefully have a chance again."