May 7, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford had two event winners, and set a school record in another event on the first day of the Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Seibert Stadium Track on Friday.

Southeast Missouri State leads the women's team standings after the first day with 60 points. Eastern Illinois is second at 52, while Samford is third with 28 points.

Eastern Illinois leads on the men's side with 108 points. Southeast Missouri State is currently second with 50 points and Murray State is in third with 23 points. Samford is currently in fourth place with 22 points.

Samford's Jessica Brewer won the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:17.38, and Brittney Mensen took first in the 10,000-meter run, finishing the event in 38:17.87 to lead the Samford women's team on Friday. In the high jump, Laura Malnati finished second with a distance of 5-6.

For the Samford men, Chad Johnson finished second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing the event in 9:15.78. Clay DeMore also placed in the top 10 for Samford in the steeplechase, placing ninth with a time of 10:21.58. Eddie Mason finished sixth in the shot put, setting a Samford record with a distance of 48-10. Josh Walker placed fifth in the javelin throw, with a distance of 50.00 meters, and Robert Weaver placed fifth in the high jump, jumping a distance of 6-6.

Heather Jenkins from Southeast Missouri State won the women's shot put with an OVC-record 51'00". In the women's long jump, Austin Peay's Sherlonda Johnson took first place with a distance of 19-4.75. Morehead State's Debbie Criss won the women's javelin at 127-5. Denise Jones from Eastern Illinois won the women's high jump with a distance of 5-6.

On the men's side, Aaron Grobengeiser of Eastern Illinois won the shot put, tossing a distance of 199-11. In the men's long jump, Jason Stark of EIU took first with a distance of 23-10.25, while Stark also won the men's high jump, leaping 6-8. Southeast Missouri State's Jay Heddell won the event with a 56-8.75. Jacob Stout of Eastern Illinois won the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:15.15. Wesley Korir from Murray State won the men's 10,000-meter run, finishing the event in 31:09.58.

The OVC Championships will wrap up on Saturday, with events beginning at 9:00 a.m. Be sure to check www.samfordsports.com for up to the minute results.