SMS returns to the chase for Gatorade Classic crown

The name has changed, but expect Southeast Missouri State University's annual track and field meet to feature its usual top individual performances and competitive team battles.

The 22nd annual Gatorade Classic -- it's the fourth name change the event has had --will be this weekend at the Abe Stuber Complex. Titled the All Sport Classic the past few years, Pepsi Mid-America remains the corporate sponsor.

All but one of the events will be held Saturday, although the meet officially begins at 5 p.m. today with the hammer throw. Saturday's events begin at 11 a.m., with the final race of the day -- the 1,600-meter relay -- set for 3:15 p.m.

"It should be a very quality meet," said Southeast coach Joey Haines, who has been involved with the event in 21 of its 22 years. "Every event has some outstanding entrants, and the team titles in all divisions should be the closest competition ever."

Southeast swept the three team titles last year -- winning the men's, women's and combined championships -- but Haines considers Southwest Missouri State to be the favorite this weekend.

"We're not saying they're going to win, but on paper they're probably the favorite," Haines said. "But we hope to be right in there."

Taking a year off

SMS, which won the Gatorade Classic women's and combined team titles in 2001 but did not participate last year, won the Missouri Valley Conference outdoor women's championship last season and the MVC indoor women's crown earlier this year.

There will be eight schools with both men's and women's teams in the meet with Memphis, Murray State, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Southern Indiana, Tennessee-Chattanooga and Tennessee-Martin joining Southeast and Southwest Missouri.

Austin Peay will enter only a women's team, while Tennessee State will field only a men's squad. Rend Lake (Ill.) College, second at the junior-college national indoor meet, will have entries but will not be included in the team scoring.

In addition to Southeast and Southwest Missouri, Haines expects Memphis and Tennessee-Chattanooga -- coached by former Southeast assistant Bill Gautier -- to contend for titles.

Southeast has eight defending champions split equally among the men and women.

On the men's side, Jay Heddell (shot put), Kelly High School graduate James Brainer (javelin), Shelton Scott (triple jump) and Chad Sierman (steeplechase) captured titles last year.

"It's always nice to compete at home, in front of family and friends," Heddell said. "We hope to do well."

For the women, Central High School graduate Courtney Haman (javelin), Meleisa Greene (long jump), Laura VanHoevelaak (400 hurdles) and Kaci Pilcher (1,500) won titles a year ago.

"I'm excited whenever there's a home meet," VanHoevelaak said. "It's good to perform in front of the home crowd."

Central High School product Heather Jenkins was the first Southeast athlete to qualify for regional during last weekend's outdoor opener at Memphis.

"It's nice to get that out of the way," said Jenkins, who qualified for last year's national meet in the discus as a freshman. "It gives me time to work on the things I need to work on and not have to worry about qualifying."