SEMO SQUADS FALL SHORT OF TITLES

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Host Eastern Illinois reclaimed the men's title while Austin Peay captured its first women's crown during the 2001 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, held Friday and Saturday at the Lantz Fieldhouse.

The Panthers held off a strong challenge from Southeast Missouri State University but easily outdistanced the field, piling up 212 points to record their fourth OVC crown in five years. Eastern Illinois won six individual events and both relay races.

Southeast Missouri finished second with 151 points as the Indians captured six individual events.

Eastern Kentucky, which won the remaining individual event, was third with 91 points, followed by Tennessee State (48), Murray State (47) and Morehead State (23).

"Our guys did really well. I was very happy with them," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "We did all we could and really had a great meet. We competed well.

"It was pretty hostile going into Eastern Illinois, but we made them sweat a little bit. They just had too much depth."

On the women's side, Austin Peay won five individual and one relay event to score 127 points. Tennessee State was second with 109 points, while Eastern Kentucky place third with 86 and an injury-riddled Southeast squad was fourth with 75 points as the Otahkians failed to defend their title.

Rounding out the women's field were Eastern Illinois (53), Morehead State (45), Tennessee Tech (27), Murray State (14) and Tennessee-Martin (10).

"It was disappointing," said Haines of the women's meet. "We had a very good day the first day but we just didn't compete real well the second day. We have a very young team and I don't know if we got intimidated or what.

"We had real good performances out of some people, but overall it was not what we felt we could do."

Indians win six events

Individual champions for Southeast's men were Emmanuel Opoku in the 60-meters (6.91); Glenn Haley in the 60-meter hurdles (8.11); Garvin Ambrose in the high jump (6-11); Shelton Scott in the triple jump (48-6 1/4); Jarret Willi in the pole vault (16-4); and Jay Heddell in the shot put (53-3).

"To get six champions was really good," Haines said. "We had some outstanding performances by a lot of people."

Scott was also second in the long jump (23-2 3/4) while Tyson Brown placed second in the 800-meters (1:54.28) and Brandon Myer finished second in the shot put (53-2 1/4).

Placing third were Opoku (200-meters, 22.28); Jason Campbell (400-meters, 50.24); Chris Donze (long jump, 22-10 1/2); and Collin Sheridan (pole vault, 14-3 1/4).

Finishing fifth were Leslie Weaver (60-meters, 7.05, 200-meters, 23.11); Adrian Barnhill (high jump, 6-7, long jump, 22-3); Donze (triple jump, 42-8); and Jeremy Benberry (shot put, 49-1/4).

Indians claiming sixth-place finishes were Shawn Statler (long jump, 21-7 1/4); Ambrose (triple jump, 42-1 1/2); and Barnhill (triple jump, 42-1 1/2).

Jared Tanz earned a seventh place (800-meters, 1:57.40) while Heath Spirz nabbed an eighth (60-meter hurdles, 8.55).

The Indians' two relay teams were fourth (4x400, 3:26.97, distance medley,10:42.82).

Otahkians shut out

Southeast's women had no first-place finishes, but the Otahkians had several seconds, including Heather Keltner in both the 200-meters (25.13) and 400-meters (56.63); Natalie Talley in the 60-meters (7.66); Amy Arteme in the 5,000-meters (18:03.61); and Megan Youse in the shot put (43-6 1/2).

Kaci Pilcher was third in the 800-meters (2:15.51) and fifth in the mile (5:08.81); Arteme placed fourth in the 3,000-meters (10:32.62); and Courtney Haman finished fifth in the high jump (5-5 3/4).

Placing sixth for the Otahkians were Hannah Stuckenschneider (400-meters, 57.56) and Lyndsey Stevenson (60-meter hurdles, 9.05) while finishing eighth were Keltner (60-meters, 7.99); Darla Hannan (200-meters, 26.09); and Robbi Durham (400-meters, 1:00.24).

In the two relays, the Otahkians were fourth in the 4x400 (3:52.97) and seventh in the distance medley (13:35.05).

"It was disappointing not having any individual champions," said Haines.