RICHMOND, Ky.-- The Eastern Kentucky University indoor track and field teams are getting ready for their biggest challenge to date.

The OVC Track and Field Championships will be held Feb. 27-28 at Middle Tennessee State University. The EKU women's team will be looking to defend its OVC championship from last season, while the Colonel men's team will be looking to turn some heads as well.

According to EKU head coach Rick Erdmann, every track team member who can be competitive will make the trip to MTSU.

"Despite the harsh winter giving us training obstacles, we are looking for the women to finish in the top three as a team and the men to compete in the upper 50%," Erdmann said.

Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri are coming in favored in the OVC men's meet.

The Colonels competed at the Cannon IV Track and Field Classic which took place at Indianapolis, IN, last weekend. No Colonels placed in the top five in any events, but eight EKU athletes did well enough to make the OVC Indoor Track and Field 2000 Men's and Women's Best Lists, published by the OVC office weekly.

Leading the women's side was Myiesha Spates who excelled in the 200 meters with a time of 25.51. Pauline Mitchell and Angie Lee performed well in the 800 meters with times of 2:17.07 and 2:22.28, respectively. Rounding out the women's team bests was Jennifer Wheeler in the mile run with a finishing mark of 5:15.40.

Standing out on the men's side was Alex Bannister who competed in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.37. Also demanding attention for Eastern were David Machungo and James Mutuse who competed in the 3000 meters and who finished with times of 8:20.81 and 8:23.51, respectively. Finishing out the men's side was Dan Pallex who excelled in the 200 meters with a time of 22.48.