OTAHKIAN RUNNERS LOOK TO UNSEAT EKU IN '99 CROSS COUNTRY SEASON

Southeast Missouri State University's women's cross country team, which has been solid over the years, will look to take the next step this season.

And what a giant step it would be.

The Otahkians' mission is to unseat Eastern Kentucky as Ohio Valley Conference champion, but that certainly won't be easy since the Lady Colonels have won the past 17 OVC titles.

"Eastern Kentucky has a lot of tradition," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "They really put a high percentage of scholarships on distance runners while we balance it out more than other programs in the OVC.

"There are no specific cross country scholarships, it's all under track. You could put it all into cross country if you want, but we try to have a well-rounded program and that puts us at a little disadvantage (with Eastern Kentucky) on the cross country side."

That being said, Haines still believes the Otahkians, who were second in the OVC last season and also placed an impressive seventh among 34 teams in the NCAA Midwest Regional, could seriously challenge Eastern Kentucky for OVC supremacy.

"We're expecting a real strong season and we hope we can challenge them this year," he said. "Eastern Illinois will also be strong, but we feel like we can contend (for the OVC title)."

The Otahkians, who open the season Saturday with a meet at Southern Illinois-Carbondale, lost just one runner from last year but it's a big loss as Janelle Quigley won the 1998 OVC title and qualified for nationals.

Back for the Otahkians are five key runners, led by junior Tammy Wenkel, third in last year's OVC meet.

Also returning are the squad's lone senior, Leslie McNamara, an all-OVC selection the last two years; junior Celeste Ramsey from Perryville, all-OVC in 1997; sophomore Amy Arteme from Kelly, who qualified for USA Junior Nationals last year; and sophomore Jessie Thompson, fifth in the mile at the 1999 OVC track meet.

"Those five runners are all looking solid and we'll be counting on them," Haines said.

Haines is also counting on two highly touted freshmen, Christy Williams from West Plains and Anna Verseman from St. Charles.

"They bring great (high school) credentials and really strengthen our lineup," said Haines. "By the end of the year, I think they'll be challenging everybody up front."

Haines is also high on a third freshman, Jackson's Jennifer Brown, who earned all-state honors for the Lady Indians last year.

"She's had some nagging injuries, but she's a good, solid runner," Haines said.

Southeast's men, who finished toward the bottom of the OVC pack last year, won't open the season until Sept. 11, when they travel to Murray State.

The Indians have one senior returning runner in Brock Alspaugh. Also back is sophomore Tyson Brown of Perryville, along with three other sophomores: Nathan Speer, Jeff Neumann and Adam Shupe.

Four first-year runners are contending for positions among the squad's primary runners: junior Jimmy Wolsey of Chaffee, freshman Jared Tanz of Perryville, freshman Blake Popp of Jackson and freshman Brent Anderson.

"The guys are really working hard, but it's hard to compete against some of the schools that put all their resources into cross country and kind of forget about track," said Haines.