SE RUNNERS FALL BACK IN OVC MEET

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's men's and women's cross country teams both placed one spot back of last year's finish in the Ohio Valley Conference championships on Saturday.

Southeast's women placed third with 69 points. Defending champion Eastern Kentucky dominated and won with 25 points. Eastern Illinois was second with 56 points. The Otahkians had placed second five successive years.

With 164 points, the Indians placed sixth in the 10-team field. Eastern Kentucky won with 30 points.

Behind three Eastern Kentucky runners, Southeast's Leslie McNamara placed fourth in 18:48. McNamara, a sophomore from Springfield, Mo., finished 58th last year. Jamie King won the race in 18:26.

Janelle Quigley was eighth (19:03), Michelle Ramsey 12th (19:22), Sherry Dieteker 19th (19:53) and Jessica Sefzik 26th (20:22) among 70 runners.

The Indians' top finisher was Erin Rhoades. The senior from Florissant placed 14th in 26:56. Ron Wagner, who finished 17th a year ago, placed 26th in 27:45.1.

Ryan Layton, from Perryville, finished 34th (28:06), Tye DeCramer, from Cape Girardeau, was 47th (30:05) and freshman Travis Schiwitz, a member of Kelly High's state championship team last year, was 50th (30:21) in the 68-runner field.