Both of Ashland University's indoor track and field teams are considered among the best in Division II in preseason polls released Wednesday (Nov. 26) by the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association.
The Eagle men are ranked second in the country, while the AU women are fourth. Ashland's men are led by senior Drew Windle, the two-time reigning Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year who won national titles a season ago in the 800, and as part of the distance medley relay team.
Last season, the Ashland men finished third as a team at the indoor track and field nationals, while the AU women placed fifth.
Adams State is the No. 1 men's program in the preseason poll, while Lincoln (Mo.), Adams State and Grand Valley State, respectively, are ranked ahead of Ashland's women.
There are five Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's teams in the Top 25, and six GLIAC women's teams nationally ranked. The GLIAC leads all Division II conferences in both categories.
The AU indoor track and field teams begin the 2014-15 campaign Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Golden Flash Gala at Kent State.
The next USTFCCCA Division II indoor track and field polls will be released on Jan. 27.
MEN'S POLL
|
Rank |
School |
Points |
2014 final |
|
1 |
Adams State |
263.56 |
2 |
|
2 |
Ashland |
221.83 |
3 |
|
3 |
Grand Valley State |
144.64 |
6 |
|
4 |
Saint Augustine's |
122.16 |
1 |
|
5 |
Southern Indiana |
93.62 |
13 |
|
6 |
Missouri Southern |
86.13 |
19 |
|
7 |
Findlay |
84.90 |
8 |
|
8 |
Shippensburg |
82.16 |
9 |
|
9 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
80.54 |
7 |
|
10 |
Western State |
75.13 |
18 |
WOMEN'S POLL
|
Rank |
School |
Points |
2014 final |
|
1 |
Lincoln (Mo.) |
182.44 |
3 |
|
2 |
Adams State |
156.94 |
1 |
|
3 |
Grand Valley State |
149.03 |
4 |
|
4 |
Ashland |
122.38 |
5 |
|
5 |
Johnson C. Smith |
95.18 |
2 |
|
6 |
Minnesota Duluth |
89.13 |
10 |
|
7 |
Angelo State |
88.77 |
8 |
|
8 |
Alaska Anchorage |
79.55 |
13 |
|
9 |
New Mexico Highlands |
75.41 |
6 |
|
10 |
Central Missouri |
68.86 |
7 |
AU
TF/DS