SEMO TRACK TEAMS GO FOR OVC INDOOR TITLES

Southeast Missouri State University's perennially strong women's team and rapidly improving men's squad will both look to bring home Ohio Valley Conference indoor track championships this weekend.

The Otahkians and Indians are both among the primary favorites heading into the meet, which will be held Friday and Saturday in Charleston, Ill.

"We're looking forward to the meet," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "We look for both our teams to do really well."

Southeast's women, the defending OVC indoor champions, have won three of the past four titles. But the Otahkians have been hampered by a variety of injuries and illnesses that could hinder their chances.

"If we were healthy, our women would really have a good chance. But that's part of it," said Haines. "The injuries and illnesses may hurt our chances, but we still should be right in there.

"I think there will be four teams in the hunt. Austin Peay, Tennessee State and Eastern Kentucky all have very good teams, along with us. But if injuries don't wipe us out, we have a good chance to win the title."

Southeast's men, who finished third last season and haven't won the title since 1996, have made major strides over the past year. Haines believes the Indians will be in a two-team battle with host Eastern Illinois.

"Our men have really improved and we should challenge for the title," Haines said. "Eastern Illinois is really strong and they're the favorite, but we have a chance to win.

"We should win or place high in a lot of events, but Eastern Illinois has the numbers to pile up a lot of points with fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth places."

The Otahkians will be led by standout Heather Keltner, one of only a handful of seniors on the women's squad. Keltner will shoot for her fourth consecutive title in the 400-meters and she's also a prime contender in the 200, an event in which she finished second last year and won the previous two seasons.

In addition, Keltner will run on the Otahkians' defending champion mile relay team.

"Heather has just had an outstanding career for us," said Haines.

Senior Natalie Talley was second in the 55-meters last year and she has the OVC's top time in that event this season.

Junior Amy Arteme, a former Kelly High standout, was second in last year's 5,000 and she enters the meet with the league's best time.

Junior Hannah Stuckenschneider placed third in the 400 last season and also ran on the victorious mile relay squad. She has been bothered by a leg injury that has limited her workout time but figures to compete this weekend.

Other Otahkians who enter the meet ranked among the top three in their events and figure to challenge for high finishes are senior Shauna Birge (55); senior Malia Roberts (pole vault), a former standout Southeast gymnast; freshman Kaci Pilcher (800, mile); freshman Megan Youse (shot put); and freshman Lyndsey Stevenson (55 hurdles).

On the men's side, the Indians return one defending champion in sophomore Adrian Barnhill, a Sikeston High product who captured the high jump last year and ranks second in that event entering this season's meet behind teammate Garvin Ambrose, a senior.

Returning second-place finishers for the Indians from a year ago are junior Chris Donze (long jump), junior Brandon Myer (shot put) and senior Tyson Brown (800), a Perryville High graduate.

Donze has the OVC's top long jump this season, just ahead of sophomore teammate Shelton Scott. Scott is the favorite in the triple jump as he has the conference's top performance so far.

Myer has the league's second-best shot put, behind freshman teammate Jay Heddell.

Junior Jarret Willi has by far the top pole vault in the OVC this year while the Indians enter the conference meet with the top two marks in two other events.

Senior Leslie Weaver, the leading receiver on last year's Southeast football team who is in his first season on the track squad, and sophomore Emmanuel Opoku rank one-two in the 55-meters.

Junior Glenn Haley, another ex-Southeast football player, and senior Heather Spirz are one-two in the 55-meter hurdles.