Southeast Missouri State track to host OVC meet this weekend

Southeast Missouri State came away with a team title the last time it hosted the Ohio Valley Conference outdoor track and field meet five years ago.

Coach Eric Crumpecker hopes history repeats itself this weekend when Southeast welcomes eight other schools for the OVC outdoor championships.

The meet at the Abe Stuber Complex begins at noon today and concludes Saturday.

"We're excited it's our turn to host again. We've been looking forward to this all year," Crumpecker said. "Our athletes always compete well at home. We're looking for a really good showing."

Southeast last hosted the OVC outdoor meet in 2008, the program's final year under longtime coach Joey Haines before he retired. The Redhawks' men sent Haines out in style with a victory.

"It would be nice if we could do something like that again," Crumpecker said. "There is something about being at home. You're comfortable, you're sleeping in your own beds, you know the facility.

"I think it's probably good for about 10 or 15 points, which could make a big difference."

Five men's teams and nine women's squads will compete this weekend.

Joining Southeast in the men's field are Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State and Tennessee State.

Those schools also field women's teams along with Austin Peay, Jacksonville State, Murray State and Tennessee Tech.

Eastern Illinois has won 12 of the last 15 men's championships, including three consecutive. Southeast's most recent of its five outdoor men's titles came in 2008.

Eastern Illinois has also claimed the past three women's crowns. Southeast's women have captured eight outdoor titles. The most recent capped a run of four straight championships for the Redhawks in 2006.

"Eastern Illinois is the favorite in both divisions going into the meet," Crumpecker said. "They're probably more of a favorite on the men's side. The women's meet, if you go straight off the OVC list, it is really close.

"If our women perform well we've got a shot. Our men are probably a little further off but we can still do really well."

Both Southeast teams were second last season. Southeast's men were second in this year's OVC indoor while the women placed fifth. Eastern Illinois also swept this season's indoor titles.

"It's definitely a good opportunity for us, being at home," Crumpecker said. "We're coming off some good performances the last few weekends. We've got some good things going on right now. ... Hopefully we can keep the ball rolling this weekend."

Southeast claimed 13 titles at last year's OVC outdoor meet -- seven by the women and six by the men.

Junior Jerika Lewis in the 400, senior Shemeika Brewer in the triple jump and senior DeAndre Simmons in the 100 meters are returning individual champions for the Redhawks.

Three Southeast athletes will look to repeat this year's indoor titles: senior Josh Uchtman (shot put), freshman Jacob Kent (high jump) and freshman Jessica Brown (long jump).

Southeast has 28 athletes or relay teams ranked in the top three on the OVC performance lists entering this weekend.

The first event on Saturday is set for 10 a.m. and the final event is slated for 4:15 p.m