NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University women's track and field team earned a fourth-place finish at the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, Saturday, earning 72 total points, while defending champion Eastern Illinois earned its second title in a row and third overall with 142 points.

"This is our best finish since 2001," said head coach Doug Molnar. "This was a total team effort. We had a lot of people contributing and doing a great job for us."

In the field events, freshman Leigha Tolliver followed up her second-place finish in the long jump, Friday, with a third-place triple jump finish, with an 11.73 meter (38-06.00) jump.

Senior pole vaulter Carrie Burggraf won her second consecutive indoor title, with a 3.96 meter (13-00.00) mark. Teammate Molly Bartkiewicz had the same height, but lost to Burggraf on a jump-off. Sophomore Briana Lococo stepped up and added a fifth place finish, with a 3.35 meter (11-00.00) jump.

"To have three vaulters finish in the top five is outstanding," said Molnar. "I couldn't ask for a better performance out of them."

On the track, junior Chiamaka Obi led the Lady Govs, scoring points in two events (the 200- and 400-meter dash); Obi finished second in the 400 with a 55.85 second time and was sixth in the 200-meter dash with a 25.35 second mark. Sophomore Jasmin Scott also earned points in the 400-meter dash, finishing seventh with a 58.35 second time.

Tolliver also earned points on the track, finishing behind senior Amanda McCoy (third, 8.15 seconds) in fourth place in the 55-meter hurdles at 8.19 seconds.

"McCoy had a solid weekend (also finishing second in the high jump) and Tolliver couldn't have done a better job as a freshman," said Molnar. "Altogether, it was a fantastic job; the ladies really pulled together."

- AP -