SEMO WOMEN SUCCESSFULLY DEFEND TITLE

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- It came down to the final event, but the Southeast Missouri State University women were able to defend their Ohio Valley Conference outdoor track and field title Saturday.

With just a five-and-a-half point lead heading to the mile relay, the Otahkians' team of Candice Parker, Heather Keltner, Tammy Wenkel and Yvonne Hente won the event in a time of 3:48 to claim the women's title.

The Otahkians, who led after the meet's first day Friday, finished with a 156 points. Eastern Kentucky was second with 146.5 points and Eastern Illinois third with 107. No other women's teams accumulated over 100 points.

The championship is the Otahkians' second consecutive outdoor title to go along with successive indoor titles.

"Eastern Kentucky gave us a good run, but our mile relay team won at the end and clinched the championship," said Southeast coach Joey Haines.

The Southeast men also did well, placing third with 111 points. Eastern Illinois finished with 205 points and Middle Tennessee had 119. The Indians, hoping for a second-place finish, might have reached their goal if not for a hamstring injury that long-jumper Derrick Brown sustained Friday.

"The men really wanted second," said Haines. "With Derrick's probable points in the long jump we would have placed second, but that's track and field."

Wet weather and cold temperatures made things difficult on all the athletes Saturday. It rained most of the day with temperatures ranging in the 50's.

"I'm extremely happy with the way both teams performed," Haines said. "Our women and men both ran well under horrible conditions."

The Otahkians' 400-meter relay team of Keltner, Hente, Kim Stewart and Natalie Talley claimed first place. Keltner, a freshman, also won the 400 meters. Classmate Natalie Talley claimed the 100-meter dash.

Hente took second in the 400 and third in the 200. Wenkel was second in the 800. In the 200, Hente, Keltner and Talley placed second, third and fourth respectively.

The Indians got wins from Cape Central graduate Jim Fox in the pole vault and Bryan Alfultis in the discus. Ryan Steck took second in the 100 meters.

Southeast hurdlers Scott Tate and Glenn Haley placed second and third respectively and Tate also finished third in the 400-meter hurdles.