SEMO TRACK MOURNS LOSS OF RECRUIT

A high school senior from Minnesota who had recently signed a letter of intent with Southeast Missouri State University's track and field program was killed over the weekend in an automobile accident.

Katie Jo Drentlaw, 18, of Prior Lake, Minn., had driven to the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, to watch the track and field competition that included Southeast's team. She had signed with Southeast just a few days earlier.

But returning home early Saturday, police say she fell asleep at the wheel of her sport-utility vehicle. The car left Interstate 35 in southern Minnesota, hit an embankment and rolled. Drentlaw was pronounced dead at the scene.

Drentlaw was a state champion in the 300-meter hurdles.

Southeast track and field coach Joey Haines traveled to Minnesota for the funeral, which is scheduled for today.

Some of this information was provided by wire services