Otahks, Indians get rare chance at home

Southeast Missouri State University track and field athletes rarely get to perform in front of a friendly crowd, particularly during the indoor season.

But they'll have the opportunity today when Southeast hosts its only indoor meet at the Student Recreation Center.

Southeast's women will compete against five schools, while Southeast's men will have a dual against Murray State.

"Our athletes always enjoy competing at home and we're really looking forward to this meet, which will be a tuneup for next weekend's Ohio Valley Conference Championships," Southeast coach Joey Haines said.

Particularly excited to perform at home are three local athletes -- Central's Heather Jenkins, Jackson's Lindsey Meyr and Jackson's Heather West -- who are having strong indoor seasons.

"It's exciting. All my family and friends can be here, and my parents are really looking forward to it," Jenkins said.

Said Meyr: "We don't get a lot of chances to compete at home indoors. Being in front of people we know is exciting."

Jenkins, a junior, has this indoor season continued the torrid pace she set from virtually the moment she began competing for Southeast after a brilliant career at Central High School.

Last season, Jenkins was the OVC female track athlete of the year both indoors and outdoors as she swept the shot put, discus and weight throws. She was a national qualifier in the discus as a freshman and holds Southeast's school discus record while ranking second in the shot put.

Already this year, Jenkins has extended here OVC record in the weight throw to 61-6 3/4, which has provisionally qualified her for the NCAA Championships, although she will likely have to improve that to actually make the field.

"That's my goal, nationals," Jenkins said. "I think I'm starting to peak and hopefully I can get there."

Meyr, a junior long-jumper, has been solid for Southeast during her first two seasons -- led by a third-place outdoor OVC finish as a freshman -- but Haines said she is performing better than ever this year, with two meet titles already under her belt.

"I think I've improved a lot," Meyr said. "It's just a matter of being older, maturing."

West, who like Meyr had a big career at Jackson High School, has already made a strong impression as a Southeast freshman, breaking the school indoor triple jump record with a distance of 38-11 3/4.

"I'm excited to have already done that and my goal is to win conference," said West, who has also already achieved a major academic feat, compiling a perfect 4.0 grade-point average during her first college semester. "It's going to be fun to compete at home, in front of family and friends."

Said Haines, "Heather Jenkins continues to perform tremendously, Lindsey is really coming on this year and Heather West is off to a very good start. It's great to see our local athletes doing so well."