Feb. 26, 2008

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -

Southeast Missouri State University men's and women's track and field teams will contest this weekend in the 2008 O'Reilly Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championship, hosted by Tennessee State University.

The Redhawks men and women have been among the favorites in recent years and will attempt to win two championship titles.

Southeast men enter the conference championship with the top seeded athletes in six events. Sophomore Brandon Colbert is a provisional qualifier and OVC leader in the shot put and weight throw. His marks of 58-04.50 in the shot put and 59-11.75 in the weight throw are career and OVC best this season.

John Berry, also a provisional qualifier, leads the conference in the long jump with his personal mark of 24-10.50.

All-American Miles Smith has the nation's fastest time in the 400-meters of 46.13 and will be favored in his respective event.

Junior Chris Gill clocked 21.87 in the 200-meters at the ASU season opener which earned him the top spot on the OVC best performance list.

Smith and Gill have teamed up with quarter-milers Chris Poindexter, Robert Delaria and Ryan Criglar to run 3:09.68 which is the fastest OVC and nation's 10th fastest 4x400-meter relay.

Other prominent athletes include Brandon Karcher in the 5,000-meters (14:57.36), Tyler Terry in the long jump (22-04.50), Ryan Criglar in the 55-meters (6.60), Bilal Hameed in the triple jump (48-11.00), Andy Glass in the shot put (49-08.50) and Andy Croxford in the weight throw (53-00.25).

One the women's side, Orie Ibe is the only top seeded athlete entering the championships with a season best of 8.22 in the 55-meter hurdles, but they have several competitive athletes who have the next best spot.

Juli Koenegstein has a personal best of 5:03.01 in the mile and will also be competitive in the 3,000-meters.

The women's 4x400-meter relay has the second fastest time of 3:52.44.

Junior Whitney Thomas holds the third best seed in the 55-meter hurdles, while sprinters Precious Elliot and Rachel Kahle both have a season best time of 7.24 in the 55-meter dash.

Ashley Brewer (56-06.00 in the weight throw), Brianna Egbuka (44-06.00 in the shot put), Lashonda Conley (57.94 in the 400-meters) and Audrey Harwood (11-00.00 in the pole vault) are among the top five in their respective events.

The meet will take place at the Gentry Athletic Complex in Nashville, Tenn. beginning at 2 p.m. Friday, and resuming at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The Redhawks has had five athletes garner OVC Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week awards for their performances in preceding meets this season. Those athletes include Miles Smith (3), John Berry (2), Brandon Colbert (2), Brandon Karcher and Dustin Davis.

Results will be available at www.gosoutheast.com.