SE's PURHAM RETURNS TO NCAA MEET

Last year, Southeast Missouri State University's Lutricia Purham was simply happy to be in the field for the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships.

This year, Purham will be looking to make her mark among the nation's best shot-putters when she competes in her second straight NCAA Meet on the Duke University campus in Durham, N.C. The shot put will be held Friday.

"I'm really excited," said Purham, who finished 15th in last year's national meet as a junior. "Last year it was a new experience for me and I was coming off an ankle sprain. I was just happy to be there.

"This year, I'm so much more comfortable with what I'm doing, and I'm a lot more confident. I really think I can do well."

Purham qualified 15th nationally with a school-record throw of 50 feet 9 1/2 inches. Southeast coach Joey Haines believes Purham has a solid chance to earn All-American honors, which go to the top eight American finishers.

"We're extremely proud of Lutricia," said Haines. "Throws coach Eric Crumpecker has done a good job of getting her prepared and she is really on top of her game right now. She had her record throw two weeks ago and I think she is ready for a strong performance (Friday).

"Last year, Lutricia competed for experience. This year she is at the NCAA finals to place and win All-American honors. If she throws 51 feet, I feel confident she will place in the top eight."

Crumpecker, who works closely with Purham, agrees with Haines that the Otahkian standout is performing at a high level right now.

"Lutricia has really been coming on the past couple of weeks. She's had three meets in a row right at 50 feet or over 50 feet," Crumpecker said. "I think she's ready for a big throw (at nationals). If she throws 51 something, she came make it in (the top eight) and she's capable of doing that."

Making All-American is something that Purham has her sights set on.

"That's my goal, to get up on that podium," she said with a laugh. "I have really been coming on the last few weeks. I'm starting to hit consistently and I just know this weekend will be it."

The NCAA Championships will complete an outstanding collegiate career for Purham. She won both the shot put and discus at the Ohio Valley Conference outdoor meet this spring and was named co-OVC Track Athlete of the Year.

In all, Purham won six OVC individual championships while at Southeast.