Brian Knippen Gains Another OVC Honor
5/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
May 4, 2005
Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Senior thrower Brian Knippen of Southeast Missouri State University has been named the Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Male Field Athlete of the Year.
The announcement was made in advance of the 2005 O'Reilly OVC Outdoor Track and Field Championships which will be held on Friday and Saturday at Governors Stadium in Clarksville, Tenn. Austin Peay plays host to the two-day event which gets underway Friday at 1 p.m.
Knippen ranks first in the OVC this season in the shot put (58-2 ½) and discus (168-8). He is already regionally qualified for the NCAA championships in the shot put.
After being named the 2005 OVC Indoor Male Field Athlete of the Year, Knippen won the shot put at the indoor championships.
Knippen will be entered in the shot put, discus and javelin at the outdoor championships. "This is a well deserved honor for Brian," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "He has been consistently the best thrower in the OVC all season."
Southeast expects to challenge for the team championship in both the men's and women's meet. "Our women are really hampered by injuries, but they are a proud group and will fight hard to defend their title," Haines said. "Southeast, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State will all have a chance to win the women's title. I know our women will give it their best effort."
Southeast will try to unseat Eastern Illinois in the men's championship. "Eastern Illinois will be favored because of their depth, but if we have a good meet, we can win," Haines said.
The Southeast women won the OVC indoor title while the Southeast men finished second behind Eastern Illinois.
