Redhawks will host OVC meet at Jaycee golf course

The Southeast Missouri State cross country teams have an opportunity to make their mark in the Ohio Valley Conference without leaving Cape Girardeau.

Southeast will host the OVC Championships today at the Jaycee Municipal Golf Course. The 5K women's race begins at 9 a.m., followed by the 8K men's race at 9:45 a.m.

"We're certainly excited," Southeast coach Miles Krieger said. "The OVC rotates the meet around, so it's one of those things that doesn't occur very often.

"For this group of athletes, it's the only time they'll get to race in the conference championships at home. My seniors are really honored."

Eastern Kentucky will be decisive favorites in both the men's and women's races as both Colonels squads are seeking their third straight titles.

But Krieger is hopeful his men can challenge for second place and his women for third place in the 10-team meet.

Eastern Kentucky's men are ranked fourth in the Southeast Region, while Southeast is 11th in the Midwest Region.

"Eastern Kentucky is for sure favored on the men's side, but we've had a very good season," Krieger said. "I have told my men, if we could get second, it's like a win to me.

"I would be very proud of that and I certainly think it's a realistic goal. Morehead State and Eastern Illinois will be our biggest threats fighting for that."

Southeast's men are led by senior Brandon Karcher, who finished ninth in last year's OVC meet to earn second-team all-conference honors. The top seven finishers make the first team and the next seven make the second team.

"Brandon has had a very good year. He should be in the top five range," said Krieger, whose men's squad was fourth at the 2007 OVC meet.

Krieger believes he has four other runners -- junior Dustin Davis, freshman Nate Shipley, sophomore Jason Lumpkin and sophomore Chris Loseman -- who could challenge for all-OVC honors.

Southeast's women are led by senior Juli Koenegstein, first-team all-OVC after placing seventh last year and second-team with an eighth-place performance in 2006.

"We're shooting for top five with Juli," Krieger said. "She's had such a great career, not only with her racing but with her leadership.

"She should leave here with three all-conference awards in cross country. That doesn't happen here often."

Krieger said a local product, junior Linnea Woldtvedt from Central High School, also is primed for a strong meet after placing 25th last season.

"She had a big kick last year to help us get third as a team, and she's been running well this year," Krieger said.

Also threats to finish well, according to Krieger, are sophomore Monica Noble, freshman Liz Speicher and junior Amy Warren.

"Eastern Kentucky's women are favored, but not as heavily as the men," Krieger said. "Murray State's women are very good. ... We're anxious to see where we match up.

"I'd say for us, third is very realistic. For us to run second in the race, we would really have to put one together."

Southeast's teams got familiar with the course for today's race by hosting a small meet Oct. 17. Krieger hopes that pays off.

"I certainly believes it helps, knowing how to run the course," he said. "I'm not saying we're at this huge advantage, but our kids are confident with it. They know the lay of the land."