Southeast wins six more titles; teams finish 2nd overall

Heather Jenkins didn't enter the Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships with the best throw in either the shot put or discus.

But the Southeast Missouri State University freshman still came away a double winner.

Jenkins, a Central High School graduate, followed Friday's victory in the shot put by capturing Saturday's discus with a school record 162 feet 9 inches. The old mark of 160 1/2 was set in 1983 by Pat Washington, another Central product.

"Getting the school record was a goal of mine this year," an excited Jenkins said. "I had a good series and I was just feeling it today. It was a good day and a good weekend for me."

Jenkins was one of six Southeast individual champions Saturday after the program captured four titles Friday, helping the men's and women's teams to second-place finishes at the Abe Stuber Complex.

Also winning Saturday for Southeast were Shelton Scott (triple jump), Jason Campbell (400 meters), Jay Heddell (discus), Jaret Willi (pole vault) and Sara Kaznica (pole vault).

Scott, a junior, defended his title in the triple jump with a distance of 49-5 3/4. His winning jump came on his final attempt and helped ease the sting of only finishing third in Friday's long jump despite entering the meet with the season's top performances in both events.

"For some reason, I don't ever win the long jump," said a smiling Scott, who has also captured the past two OVC indoor triple jump titles. "I'm always ranked high, but for some reason I just don't win it."

Scott admitted he was nervous entering his final triple jump Saturday.

"It scared me," he said. "But my last jump did it for me."

Campbell, a senior, was not favored to win the 400, but he came through in an almost photo finish in his final attempt at an OVC championship. His time was 47.32 seconds.

"It feels good," Campbell said. "I knew I had a chance. I just wanted to do my best. This was a goal of mine."

Said Southeast coach Joey Haines, "It's always good to see a senior go out like this, especially on his home track."

Heddell, a sophomore, defended his discus title with a toss of 170-11 and became a double winner as he captured Friday's shot put. Heddell held on after Murray State's Jay Matheny went 170-5 on his final attempt.

"To be honest, the guy from Murray scared me," Heddell said. "I saw his last throw and thought he might have got me. I was relieved."

Willi, a senior, claimed his third OVC outdoor pole vault title to go with two indoor championships. His 15-6 height was well off his career best, but it was still quite a weekend for Willi, who was the surprise winner in Friday's long jump after never having previously participated in the event in a collegiate meet.

"It wasn't my best, but I'm just glad to win again," Willi said.

Kaznica, a senior, went 10-6 to win the pole vault in the first year it has been an OVC event.

"It feels great to win," Kaznica said. "It wasn't my best jump. I went 11 1/4 last week for my personal best, but I used a bigger pole today. I'm just happy to go out this way."

Southeast also had several runner-up performances Saturday.

Glenn Haley, battling injury, was second in both the 110 and 400 hurdles after winning both events last year.

Chad Sierman had a strong day, finishing second in the 3,000 steeplechase and third in the 1,500. Also second on the men's side were Collin Sheridan in the pole vault and Adam Shupe in the 800.

For Southeast's women, Laura VanHoevelaak was second in the 400 hurdles and the 1,600 relay team finished second.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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