SEMOTION RELAYS PASS OFF BATON TO ALL SPORT

Southeast Missouri State University track and field coach Joey Haines expects quite a battle -- with his program right in the hunt -- for the team trophies during this weekend's ALL SPORT Relays.

The 16th annual track and field meet hosted by Southeast -- formally known as the SEmotion Relays -- will take place today and Saturday at the Abe Stuber Track and Field Complex.

Action will begin at noon today and pick up again at 10 a.m. Saturday. Opening ceremonies will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, with former relays high jump champion and 1907 U.S. Olympic team member Cameron Wright of Southern Illinois honored.

ALL SPORT Body Quencher and the Marion (Ill.) Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company have assumed sponsorship of the meet, which will feature team titles for the men's division, women's division and a combined team title.

"We look for an outstanding meet," said Haines, who also serves as meet director. "The last two years we've streamlined the event to make it more spectator friendly. It doesn't run as long and the team competition makes it more exciting."

Southeast won the combined title last year, with Southern Illinois capturing the women's title and Northern Iowa the men's crown. Northern Iowa is not entered this season.

Haines looks for some furious battles in all three divisions.

"Our goal is to win the combined overall title again," he said. "Our women should do really well and we're hoping our men can get in the top three.

"Illinois State and SIU will be tough in the overall. Marquette also has good men's and women's teams. Illinois State should be the prohibitive favorite for the men. They won the Missouri Valley and they're strong all around."

Southeast's women are having an impressive season, winning the Ohio Valley Conference indoor title and breaking several school records.

"We've been having a tremendous year with the girls," Haines said. "We think our women can win this weekend. It will probably be between Illinois State, SIU and us. We're all really good across the board."

The Otahkians' sprint relay teams have been especially impressive so far this year and could contend for several titles this weekend.

Southeast's women's 4x200 relay team of Yvonne Hente, Shannon O'Dell, Shauna Birge and Kim Stewart have a top time of 1:37.58 to set the school record while that same group is second on the school's all-time list for the 4x100 relay.

The Otahkians' 4x400 relay of O'Dell, Stewart, Tammy Wenkel and Hente also have broken the school record with a 3:42.65. The team captured the OVC indoor title and just missed qualifying for nationals.

Another top relay is the sprint medley group of O'Dell, Birge, Hente and Wenkel.

"Our relays have been running tremendous," said Haines. "Southwest Missouri has got several girls who are very good and will be our competition in those sprint relays."

Individually for the Otahkians, a top competitor figures to be O'Dell, who is the meet's two-time defending 400 hurdles champion and owns the second-best time in school history.

"She's having a great senior season," Haines said.

Wenkel, a freshman, has the third-best 400 hurdles time in Southeast history.

Among others who should fare well are Jennifer Phillips in the shot put, discus and javelin; Denise Ford in the shot put; Gray C. Harris in the triple jump; Heather Denihan in the long jump and high jump; Janelle Quigley in the 800 and 1,600; and Estelle McHargue, Jennifer Anderson, Sherry Lange and Leslie McNamara, who will all run important distance relay legs.

On the men's side, Southeast probably won't contend for the team title but Haines expects some strong performances.

The Indians' headliner is Randy Johnson, defending javelin champion who holds the OVC record in that event with a best distance of 221-10.

Southeast's weight throws should be strong, with defending shot put and discus champion Brian Alfultis, who won the OVC indoor shot put this year; and Matt Gaylor, the 1996 OVC indoor shot put winner.

The Indians' pole vault should also be good, with 1995 and 1996 OVC champion Tim Davis and this year's OVC indoor runner-up Chris Prescott.