SE TEAMS ENTER OVC INDOOR MEET

Southeast Missouri State University's women's track team will be shooting for a third straight Ohio Valley Conference indoor championship when the meet is held today and Saturday in Charleston, Ill.

But a decision to redshirt star middle distance runner Tammy Wenkel figures to make the meet much closer than expected.

Wenkel has been sidelined by a leg injury and will not compete this weekend. She would have scored high in distance events and would have bolstered both relay teams.

"It will be closer without Tammy, but we can still win the meet," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "We just don't have much margin for error. Several of our freshmen runners will have to perform well to give us a chance to win the title."

Eastern Kentucky will be the top challenger for the Southeast women, with host Eastern Illinois and Middle Tennessee in a likely battle for third place.

Sophomore Heather Keltner, who is undefeated in the 200-meters and 400-meters in 1999, will be a key performer for Southeast. She will defend her OVC indoor title in the 400, run the 200 (she was second last season) and anchor the Southeast mile relay team.

Senior Janelle Quigley, the 1998 OVC cross country champion, will run the mile and 3,000 as well as anchor the distance medley relay. Quigley was second in the mile and third in the 800 last season.

Lutricia Purham will be favored in the shot put after finishing second last season. She has the best throw in the OVC this year at 47 feet 3 1/2 inches.

Freshmen Hannah Stuckenschneider and Laura Van Hoevelaak will run on both relay teams while Jessie Thompson will run the 1,200-meter leg on the distance medley relay.

Another freshman, Amy Arteme out of Kelly High School, is expected to team with Leslie McNamara to score valuable points in the 5,000.

On the men's side, Southeast's improved squad will be shooting for a spot in the top three. Eastern Illinois should capture the title, according to Haines, with the Indians, Middle Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky in a battle for the runnerup position.

Bryan Alfultis will be out to claim the shot put title after finishing second last season while Jim Fox (Cape Central) will defend his title in the pole vault.

Freshman Brandon Myer is also expected to place high in the shot put while Chris Moore (Cape Central) and Jaret Willi should both challenge in the pole vault. Long and triple jumpers Eugene Staten, Chris Donze and Donovan Collier should contribute points.

On the track, Derrick Brown should fare well in the sprints while freshman Tyson Brown (Perryville) will challenge for the top spot in the 800 and Jason Campbell should have a high finish in the 400.