Throwers ready for double duty

~ Southeast will send five athletes to the NCAA regional meet.

Southeast Missouri State track and field coach Eric Crumpecker stresses that simply qualifying for an NCAA regional is a major accomplishment.

Five of Crumpecker's athletes will try to take the next step Friday and Saturday at the NCAA Mideast Regional in Louisville, Ky. It is one of four regionals held nationwide.

The top five finishers in each event automatically qualify for next month's outdoor national meet in Fayetteville, Ark., with the next seven qualifying for possible at-large selection based on seasonal best times or distances.

"Getting to the regional means you're one of the top 95-something people in the country at what you do," Crumpecker said. "It's a big accomplishment."

Southeast has a pair of throwers who qualified for the regional in two events.

Sophomore Josh Uchtman and junior Ashley Brewer both will compete in the shot put and discus.

Uchtman was the Ohio Valley Conference indoor male field athlete of the year, while Brewer earned OVC outdoor female field athlete of the year honors.

Other regional qualifiers are junior Brandon Colbert in the discus, senior Juli Koenegstein in the steeplechase and junior Samantha Espiricueta in the javelin.

Colbert, the OVC outdoor male field athlete of the year, was a 2007 regional qualifier in the discus and shot put. He missed last season with an injury.

Koenegstein also qualified for regionals two years ago before missing last year with an injury.

Espiricueta is a returning regional qualifier as she placed seventh last year.

Koenegstein, Colbert and Brewer appear to have the best shots of making it to nationals.

Koenegstein is ranked 12th in the region in the steeplechase, Colbert is 13th in the discus and Brewer is 16th in the shot put.

"I think Juli has an outstanding shot of making it if she PRs, which I think she's ready to do," Crumpecker said. "I think she's ready to do something big.

"I think Brandon is also ready to do something big, and if Ashley throws what her PR is, she should have a shot."

While Espiricueta is not ranked as high in the region, Crumpecker believes she also can make some noise.

"She wasn't ranked real high last year, but got seventh," Crumpecker said. "She's capable of popping up and taking one of the top five spots."

Uchtman also has a chance to fare well.

"He qualified late, but I'm glad he got in," Crumpecker said. "He's capable of making the finals."

Athletes from 12 states and approximately 80 schools will compete in the Mideast Regional.

"We'll be going up against the best people in this part of the country from some of the top programs," Crumpecker said. "It's just a matter of getting it done this weekend and making it happen."

Groves in two events

Despite being slowed by an injury, Scott City High School graduate Loren Groves will compete in the hammer throw and discus Friday at the Midwest Regional in Norman, Okla.

A Kansas State senior, Groves already has enjoyed a brilliant collegiate career with three All-American awards and multiple Big 12 Conference titles.

Groves earned All-American status by placing sixth in the weight throw at the 2007 indoor national meet, sixth in the weight throw at the 2008 indoor nationals and fifth in the hammer throw at the 2008 outdoor nationals.

Groves tore her shoulder labrum the week before this year's indoor nationals and finished 13th in the hammer. She is scheduled for surgery three days after next month's outdoor nationals.

Groves has been unable to lift or throw much in practice and has lost about 15 pounds of muscle, according to her family. Her family also said she opted to finish her senior season instead of undergoing surgery in March, when the injury happened.

Groves is ranked first in the hammer and ninth in the discus for the regional meet.

In addition, Groves recently was named an Academic All-Big 12 first-team selection for the fourth time.