Otahkians figure to challenge OVC's best

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Southeast Missouri State University's women's cross country team has had another strong year and the Otahkians hope they can turn in one of their better efforts of the season Saturday.

That's when the Ohio Valley Conference Championships will be held in Richmond, Ky. The nine-school meet will begin with the women's race at 10 a.m., followed by the men's race at 10:45 a.m.

While the Otahkians won't be favored to capture the title, coach Tammy Wenkel believes a strong performance should have them in contention. Host Eastern Kentucky, which saw its amazing 18-year streak of winning the meet end last season, and Eastern Illinois appear to be the teams to beat.

"We should be right up there if we run well. If we run well, then I think we'll have a chance," said Wenkel. "I feel like we've had a good year so far. We were first in one meet and had a lot of other high finishes. We seem to be improving as the season goes along."

The Otahkians, who finished fourth in the 2000 OVC meet after having placed second the previous three years, figure to be led -- as they have all season -- by the strong one-two punch of senior Amy Arteme and sophomore Kaci Pilcher.

Arteme, a former Kelly High School star, is in the final year of a brilliant cross country and track career for Southeast. She won the 1999 OVC cross country title and was second last year.

Pilcher, fourth in last year's OVC meet, has been the Otahkians' top runner in most of their meets this season, with Arteme close behind.

"Kaci came back in great shape in the summer and she's been doing real well," Wenkel said. "She and Amy have been our top two runners all year and we look for good things from them."

Freshman Kris Woolf has established herself recently as the Otahkians' No. 3 runner, with senior Jessie Thompson and sophomore Anna Verseman close behind. Thompson placed 25th at last year's OVC meet.

Rounding out the Otahkians' lineup for Saturday's meet will be junior Carmen Owens, sophomore Jen Burke and freshman Colleen Burke. Jen Burke placed 32nd in the OVC a year ago.

The men's outlook

On the men's side, Wenkel said Southeast should finish somewhere in the middle of the pack, with fifth place as its goal. The Indians were sixth last year.

"They're working all right, we just have trouble having a good five runners (for a team score), but we've gotten a little better this year," said Wenkel.

Junior Blake Popp from Jackson High School and senior Danny Copeland have consistently been the Indians' top two runners this season. Rounding out Saturday's lineup will be junior Jared Tanz out of Perryville High School, sophomore Chad Sierman, freshman Jason Crawford and freshman Brian Whitehead.