COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Every four years sports fans across the
region get to watch the highest level of track & field
competition when the Olympics air on TV. And, occasionally there's
a nationally recognized meet televised such as the Drake or Penn
Relays.
This weekend those fans have a rare opportunity to watch a
collegiate track & field meet live when Tennessee Tech hosts
the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field
Championships.
How rare? It's the first time in 32 yeas that Tech has hosted the
OVC meet and the first-ever for the women's division. The OVC
didn't sponsor women's track in 1978, the last time the meet came
to town.
Running and jumping events will be held in Tech's Tucker Staidum,
while the throwing events (discus, javelin, hammer and shot put)
will take place on the field adjacent to the Tech softball field,
just west of Willow Avenue.
Nine women's teams and five men's squads will compete for the OVC
crowns, with the team champions announced at 2:30 Saturday
afternoon in Tucker Stadium. Individual champions will be
determined throughout the day Saturday, with podium presentations
for the top three finishers in each event.
The Eastern
Illinois men's and women's teams swept the Indoor Track and
Field Championships in February and both Panther teams will attempt
to do so again this weekend.The sweep of the outdoor titles would be a
double dose of championships after both Panther teams won in
2009.
Last year the EIU men earned 227 points to
finish first while Eastern Kentucky was in second with 141,
followed by Southeast Missouri with 124, Tennessee State with 45,
Texas-Pan American with 26 and Morehead State with 6.
At last year's meet on the women's side the
Panthers recorded 188 points while Southeast Missouri placed second
with 155, Murray State finished third with 91.5 points,
Jacksonville State followed in fourth with 78.5 and Austin Peay
rounded out the top five with 76.5.
Returning to the championship is last
year’s shot put winner and 2009 Field Athlete of the Year
Brandon Colbert of Southeast Missouri, who has been named the OVC
Field Athlete of the Week four times this season and has the OVC
best distances in the shot put and discus. He is second on the OVC
best list in the hammer throw.
The EIU men's 4x400-meter and 4x100-meter relays
have been impressive all season and will attempt to give the
Panthers consecutive wins in both events as both relay teams
currently have the best times in conference.
For the women, last year's 100-meter and
200-meter winners Shawana Smith from EIU is hoping to give the
Panthers a boost as she is currently tied for the top time in the
OVC in the 100 and has the conference second- best time in the 200.
Southeast Missouri's Rachel Kale has top times in both events and
will look to make her place in OVC history.
EIU's Chandra Golden will try to make OVC
history as the senior attempts to win her fourth consecutive
100-meter hurdles title.
The meet begins Friday with
the high jump at 1 p.m. and the running events starting at 2:15
p.m.The meet
resumes Saturday with the official Opening Ceremony at 8:45
a.m.
Fans interested in photos from the meet and
awards presentations can visit http://tinyurl.com/36mqfuq,
or go to TTUSports.com, choose the photos page and click on the
track and field category.
Results from each day can be seen at either
www.ovcsports.com or ttusports.com following the completion of each
days events.
Tickets for admission to Tucker Stadium are $5 each day for adults
and $1 for students. Children three and younger are
free.
