May 15, 2008

Atlanta, Ga. - Four track athletes from Southeast Missouri State University will compete this weekend at the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta.

Long jumper John Berry, long and triple jumper Tyler Terry and javelin throwers Ben Stricklin and Samantha Espiricueta will compete. It will be a warmup for Berry, Stricklin and Espiricueta who have already qualified for the NCAA Regional while Terry will be attempting to qualify.

Berry is ranked seventh in the NCAA Mideast Region with a best jump of 25-feet 5 ½-inches. Stricklin is ranked eighth in the javelin with a throw of 214-6 and Espiricueta is ranked 11th with a throw of 149-0. Terry needs a jump of 24-1 in the long jump and/or 49-2 ½ in the triple jump to qualify for the regional.

Lindsey Hearne who is ranked 12th regionally in the javelin and Bilal Hameed who is ranked 13th in the triple jump will not compete this weekend because of prior commitments.

Four-time All-American Miles Smith is recovering from a leg injury but hopes to be ready for the NCAA Mideast Regional on May 31. He is currently ranked first in the region with a time of 45.67.

"At first, we just thought we would get Miles ready for the Olympic Trials," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "He is progressing nicely and we now feel he can be ready for the NCAA regional and the NCAA national championships."