Two Southeast Missouri State University track and field athletes have started the 2011-2012 season off strong. Sophomore Courtney Gapelu and junior Craig Robinson were named Adidas Ohio Valley Conference Co-Field Athletes of the Week after an impressive performance at the Illini Classic on Jan. 21.

Both Gapelu and Robinson have trained hard since the fall to prepare themselves. Each practice they push each other mentally and physically to perform their very best, according to Southeast track and field coach Eric Crumpecker.

"They came every day ready to work hard and with their hard work their talent is coming out," Crumpecker said.

Due to personal reasons, Gapelu took a month off from training to rest with her family in California. Gapelu returned to throw a personal record of 46 feet, 10.25 inches in the shot put event at the Illini Classic. Her best throw of the indoor season was 47 feet, 9 inches on Saturday.

"Before [the break] shot put wasn't doing well," said Gapelu. "When I got back everything came into place."

Gapelu currently is in first place on the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Performance List and finished third in the 2011 OVC indoor championships in the shot put. Gapelu is the only female thrower that has competed this season on Southeast's roster. She said that the men push her to do her best and work hard.

Gapelu said Crumpecker has been getting on to her about bad habits and the little things while throwing, like standing tall at the end. Changing those things has made a difference in her throwing. Crumpecker is impressed with her improvement and said that the past month her throwing has gotten better.

Robinson left the Illini Classic victorious in the weight throw with a toss of 59 feet, 9.25 inches and placed third in the shot put with a distance of 52 feet, 2.5 inches. His best weight throw of the indoor season was 62 feet, 10.5 inches on Dec. 2, and his best throw in the shot put was 55 feet, 4.2 inches on Jan. 28.

"At practice coach tweaked the little things and told me to not think while I'm in the ring," Robinson said. "I became faster and threw farther."

Robinson stands second in the conference in the weight throw and third in the OVC in the shot put. He said that his goal is to break the school record in weight throw and make it to the indoor nationals.

"Craig's technique is more consistent and he can easily make a 5-foot jump in the next few weeks, and Courtney has a shot at breaking the school record," Crumpecker said. "They both have what it takes and their hard work is showing their success."

The Redhawks will travel to Bloomington, Ind. on Friday for the Hoosier Hills Invitational. Southeast will host the Redhawks Invitational on Feb. 17.