OTAHKS VIE FOR 3RD STRIAGHT OVC OUTDOOR TITLE

Injuries are a big part of sports. Southeast Missouri State University's women's track and field team has had its share -- but the Otahkians hope to overcome them during this weekend's Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Championships.

The two-day meet will be held Friday and Saturday on the campus of Eastern Kentucky in Richmond.

Southeast's women had won four consecutive OVC titles -- two indoor and two outdoor -- before finishing second behind Eastern Kentucky during this year's indoor meet.

The Otahkians were hampered by several key injuries in that competition and will be again this weekend, which makes Eastern Kentucky the favorite to sweep the 1999 OVC titles.

But Southeast coach Joey Haines believes that, if everything works out right, the Otahkians can overcome those injuries and win a third straight OVC outdoor championship.

"Eastern Kentucky is the favorite, but not an overwhelming favorite like we've been the last few years," said Haines. "We could still win it, but we'd have to have some help, because the injuries really make it tough on us.

"But we're going to have a good meet. I think it will be a battle. They (Eastern Kentucky) are going to have to help us out a little bit and we're going to have to have some people come through. But if that happens, we could do it."

While Southeast's women should contend for the title, Southeast's men continue to improve and Haines believes they could finish as high as second.

"Eastern Illinois (the OVC indoor champion) is the big favorite," Haines said. "They have a lot of depth. They're solid everywhere.

"But our guys are really coming on. And we're young, with only two seniors and two juniors. We were third indoors and we want to get second. We think we can pass (indoor runnerup) Middle Tennessee, if everybody does like they're capable."

For Southeast's women, despite missing several key competitors -- including standout distance runner Janelle Quigley, who is out with an illness -- a host of athletes should contend for OVC titles.

The Otahkians do regain the services of Tammy Wenkel, who missed the indoor season with an injury. She was second in the outdoor 800 last year and ran on the winning 4x400 relay.

Defending OVC champions for the Otahkians are Heather Keltner in the 400, Natalie Talley in the 100 and Lutricia Purham in the shot put.

"Talley and Purham are both battling minor injuries but should challenge for titles again," said Haines. "Keltner will be a favorite in the 400 and will also run in the 200 and on the 4x400 relay.

Haines also expects big meets from distance runners Leslie McNamara, Amy Arteme and Celeste Ramsey. They will run the 10,000, 5,000 and 3,000. Arteme is a freshman out of Kelly High School while Ramsey is from Perryville.

Among others expected to fare well for the Otahkians are Shauna Birge in the sprints and Becky Shull in the javelin.

In addition, Haines looks for big things from the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams, events which the Otahkians won last year.

Making up the 4x100 are Keltner, Birge, Talley and Kim Stewart. They have the fastest OVC time this year. On the 4x400 are Keltner, Stewart, Wenkel and freshman Hannah Stuckenschneider, who will run the finals despite having a stress fracture.

On the men's side, defending outdoor champions are Bryan Alfultis in the discus and Cape Central product Jim Fox in the pole vault.

The Southeast strength in the men's meet will be in the field events. Alfultis and 6-foot-10, 310-pound freshman Brandon Myer will battle for titles in the shot put, discus and javelin while the pole vault trio of Fox, follow Cape Central graduate Chris Moore and Jaret Willi should pile up a lot of points. Willi went a career-best 16-6 last weekend, the fourth-best vault in school history.

Haines also expects strong performances from Derrick Brown in the sprints, freshman Jason Campbell in the 400, freshman Tyson Brown of Perryville in the 800 and Glenn Haley in the hurdles. In addition, the 4x400 relay team of Brown, Jarod Rybacki, Haley and Campbell should fare well.