RICHMOND- Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University men's and women's track teams are preparing for the 2000 Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships to be held Friday and Saturday at Murfreesboro, TN.

"We expect to compete well in the distance events and certain dash events," said EKU head track coach Rick Erdmann. Middle Tennessee is favored in the men's meet, and Southeast Missouri is considered to be the favorite in the women's meet, according to Erdmann.

The Colonels took selected runners to the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, PA, last weekend where Eastern's athletes had excellent performances. On the women's side, the 4 x 200 meter relay team ran a 1:40.21, and the 4 x y400 relay squad also clocked in with a time of 48.03. The women's sprint medley relay team also ran a 4:02.16.

The men's highlights at the Penn Relays consisted of a school record and a first place finish for the Colonels.

Senior David Machungo set the EKU record for the 5,000-meter run, finishing 12^th with a time of 14:10.69. Freshman James Mutuse won the 3,000-meter steeplechase event with a time of 8:53.97. In doing so, Mutuse qualified for the NCAA championships held in early June at Durham, NC.