MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD TABBED TO DEFEND BIG SKY INDOOR TITLE
1/7/2008
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — What a difference a year makes. Last January, the Sacramento State men’s track and field team was picked to finish sixth in the Big Sky Conference by the league’s coaches in the annual preseason poll. A few months later, the Hornets shocked the conference by winning its first Big Sky indoor title.
This year, Sacramento State will not surprise anyone as the Hornet men have been picked as a co-favorite to defend their title. Sacramento State earned 55 points and garnered three of the eight first-place votes. The Hornets finished in a tie with Weber State and Northern Arizona atop the poll. WSU also received three first-place votes while NAU had one. Idaho State was picked to finish fourth with 43 points (and the other first place prediction). The Bengals were followed by Montana (34), Montana State (33), Eastern Washington (26), Northern Colorado (13) and Portland State (10).
Most of Sacramento State predicted success is based upon the returning talent to the team for the 2008 season. All but one of the team’s 10 all-conference selections returns from last season’s team, including Big Sky champions Jody Johnson (55, 200), David Nichols (shot put), Raphael McFarlane (long jump) and Daniel Imlach (pole vault).
The Hornet women were picked to better their finish from last season as well. Sacramento State placed sixth at the 2007 Big Sky Indoor Championships but were tabbed to finish fifth for the upcoming campaign. The Hornets received 35 points and trailed defending champion Weber State (57), Northern Arizona (56), Idaho State (51) and Portland State (44). Montana (31), Montana State (27), Eastern Washington (15) and Northern Colorado (8) were predicted to finish sixth through ninth, respectively.
Sacramento State begins its 2008 indoor season at the UW Invitational in Seattle on Feb. 1. The Big Sky Championships will take place on Feb. 29 and March 1 in Pocatello, Idaho.
1/7/2008
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — What a difference a year makes. Last January, the Sacramento State men’s track and field team was picked to finish sixth in the Big Sky Conference by the league’s coaches in the annual preseason poll. A few months later, the Hornets shocked the conference by winning its first Big Sky indoor title.
This year, Sacramento State will not surprise anyone as the Hornet men have been picked as a co-favorite to defend their title. Sacramento State earned 55 points and garnered three of the eight first-place votes. The Hornets finished in a tie with Weber State and Northern Arizona atop the poll. WSU also received three first-place votes while NAU had one. Idaho State was picked to finish fourth with 43 points (and the other first place prediction). The Bengals were followed by Montana (34), Montana State (33), Eastern Washington (26), Northern Colorado (13) and Portland State (10).
Most of Sacramento State predicted success is based upon the returning talent to the team for the 2008 season. All but one of the team’s 10 all-conference selections returns from last season’s team, including Big Sky champions Jody Johnson (55, 200), David Nichols (shot put), Raphael McFarlane (long jump) and Daniel Imlach (pole vault).
The Hornet women were picked to better their finish from last season as well. Sacramento State placed sixth at the 2007 Big Sky Indoor Championships but were tabbed to finish fifth for the upcoming campaign. The Hornets received 35 points and trailed defending champion Weber State (57), Northern Arizona (56), Idaho State (51) and Portland State (44). Montana (31), Montana State (27), Eastern Washington (15) and Northern Colorado (8) were predicted to finish sixth through ninth, respectively.
Sacramento State begins its 2008 indoor season at the UW Invitational in Seattle on Feb. 1. The Big Sky Championships will take place on Feb. 29 and March 1 in Pocatello, Idaho.