Jan. 24, 2008

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri State men's and women's track and field teams will head to West Lafayette, Indiana on Saturday to compete in the 13th annual Gene Edmonds Cup, hosted by Purdue University.

Leading the way for the Redhawks men will be seniors Miles Smith and John Berry. Smith clocked 46.89 in the 400-meters at the season-opening Arkansas State to clench the nation's top spot, while Berry's leap of 24-10.50 is the nation's fifth-best long jump mark. The men's 4x400-meter relay will be looking to join Smith and Berry on the national list. The team, comprised of Smith, Chris Gill, Chris Poindexter and Robert Delaria, clocked 3:13.79 which barely missed provisional qualifying standards.

The women's team will get a mass of track action from juniors Orie Ibe, Whitney Thomas and Juli Koenegstein. Ibe holds the top 60-meter hurdles spot in the OVC, followed by Thomas who is seeded second. Koenegstein has earned OVC weekly honors and most recently captured her first win of the season in the mile run.

The Gene Edmonds Cup is held in honor of the long-time meet official and former member of the Purdue coaching staff. The Boilermakers and the Redhawks will compete against Indiana State Sycamores in a team (men and women) scoring meet. The Boilermakers have won the title for the past twelve years.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. with the women's long jump, women's pole vault and men's weight throw. Results can be found on www.gosoutheast.com.