Men Picked Fourth, Women Picked Fifth in SAC Preseason Poll
The South Atlantic Conference announced the preseason coaches’ polls for men’s and women’s indoor track on Friday, Jan. 29.
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The South Atlantic Conference announced the preseason coaches' polls for men's and women's indoor track on Friday, Jan. 29.
The Carson-Newman men were voted fourth, finishing with 113 total points. Queens was voted preseason first place with 142 total points and 10 first place votes. Wingate was voted second with 125 total points and one first place vote. Conference newcomer Limestone was voted fifth with 98 total points and one first place vote.
This is the fourth straight year that the men's team was projected to finish in the top four of the SAC indoor season. The Eagles tied for third place with Wingate in last year's preseason poll.
The Carson-Newman men finished fourth at the 2020 SAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, with Christian Shouse being named Freshman Male Athlete of the Year and Men's Field Athlete of the Meet. Shouse took home three gold medals last March, winning SAC Championships in the men's high jump, long jump and pole vault. Devon Moore continued his strong career, winning the 60-meter and 200-meter dash titles. Theo Devillard placed second in the long jump while Christian Stumpf placed second in the high jump.
The Carson-Newman women were voted fifth, finishing with 102 total points. Queens was voted the preseason favorite with 143 points and 11 first-place votes. Lenoir-Rhyne was voted second with 131 points and one vote.
The women's team was projected to finish fifth in last year's preseason poll and finished fourth last season at the 2020 SAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, the team's highest finish in history in the women's indoor history. Abby Owens finished first place in the pole vault, while Marlee Baker finished third in the event. Nathalie Schumacher finished third in the high jump and Rachel Strayer finished third in the 5000 meter run.
The Eagles competed at the KMS Invitational this past week in Birmingham, Ala. with Schumacher winning the high jump, Joseph Oreva winning the long jump with a jump of 7.50 meters, the second longest in the nation, and Josh Whitaker tying the school record for the pole vault in his first ever collegiate meet.
FULL SAC PRESEASON POLLS
MEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
|
Rank |
School (1st place votes) |
Points |
|
1 |
Queens (10) |
142 |
|
2 |
Wingate (1) |
125 |
|
3 |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
121 |
|
4 |
Carson-Newman |
113 |
|
5 |
Limestone (1) |
98 |
|
6 |
Catawba |
93 |
|
7 |
Tusculum |
86 |
|
8 |
Coker |
71 |
|
9 |
Lincoln Memorial |
64 |
|
10 |
Anderson |
63 |
|
11 |
Newberry |
42 |
|
12 |
Mars Hill |
38 |
WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
|
Rank |
School (1st place votes) |
Points |
|
1 |
Queens (11) |
143 |
|
2 |
Lenoir-Rhyne (1) |
131 |
|
3 |
Wingate |
109 |
|
4 |
Tusculum |
107 |
|
5 |
Carson-Newman |
102 |
|
6 |
Limestone |
99 |
|
7 |
Catawba |
86 |
|
8 |
Anderson |
67 |
|
9 |
Coker |
65 |
|
10 |
Lincoln Memorial |
58 |
|
11 |
Mars Hill |
44 |
|
12 |
Newberry |
35 |
